{"text":[[{"start":8.95,"text":"The United Arab Emirates has denied a claim that Benjamin Netanyahu paid a secret visit to the Gulf state in the midst of the US-Israeli war against Iran, in an extraordinary rebuttal from Israel’s closest Arab partner. "}],[{"start":22.5,"text":"The Israeli prime minister’s office said earlier that Netanyahu met the UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and “secretly” visited the Arab state. It said that the trip — which would be Netanyahu’s first known visit to the UAE — “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations” between the two countries."}],[{"start":41.85,"text":"But the UAE’s foreign ministry later issued a statement strongly denying the reports of an “alleged” visit by Netanyahu, or “receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country”. "}],[{"start":51.95,"text":"“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements,” it said, referring to the 2020 agreement that led to Abu Dhabi formalising relations with Israel. "}],[{"start":71.15,"text":"“Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.”"}],[{"start":80.05000000000001,"text":"Israel’s announcement of the trip had appeared to underscore how the conflict had deepened relations between the two states, with the UAE seeking to double down on its partnership with Israel and increase defence and economic co-operation. "}],[{"start":93.20000000000002,"text":"But the UAE’s denial also hinted at the sensitivities of being viewed as too close to Israel. "}],[{"start":99.70000000000002,"text":"The UAE has borne the brunt of Iran’s retaliatory strikes, with some 2,800 missiles and drones fired at the Gulf state, in part because of its burgeoning relationship with Israel, analysts say. "}],[{"start":112.45000000000002,"text":"Most have been intercepted by the UAE’s air defences, with the aid of US and Israeli systems. "}],[{"start":118.75000000000001,"text":"During the conflict, Israel has provided the UAE with sophisticated air-defence weapons, including its Iron Dome system, as well as a recently developed laser system, a lightweight surveillance system and troops to operate them, the FT has reported. "}],[{"start":133.85000000000002,"text":"The UAE swiftly looked to expand its relations with Israel, particularly in defence, intelligence and technology, after it signed the Abraham Accords along with three other Arab states to normalise relations with the Jewish state, in an agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first term."}],[{"start":151.85000000000002,"text":"Relations cooled after Netanyahu formed Israel’s most far-right government after elections in 2022. They came under further strain following the Israeli war in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 2023 attack. "}],[{"start":166.75000000000003,"text":"However, despite outrage across the Arab and Muslim worlds over Israel’s conduct of the war, Abu Dhabi maintained that the Abraham Accords were in the UAE’s strategic interests. It also argued that the relationship allowed it to keep open a channel of communication with Israel and deliver aid to Gaza."}],[{"start":184.50000000000003,"text":"The outbreak of the US-Israeli war had reinforced the belief in Abu Dhabi — which has long shared many of Israel’s concerns about Iran and Islamist groups — that Israel was an increasingly important partner. "}],[{"start":196.65000000000003,"text":"The UAE has been the most hawkish Gulf state towards Iran, and has publicly criticised Arab institutions for being too tepid in their response to Iranian aggression. "}],[{"start":205.95000000000005,"text":"That has put it at odds with other Arab states, which blame Netanyahu for dragging Trump into a war that the Gulf had warned against, and increasingly consider Israel as a belligerent actor that is a destabilising force in the region. "}],[{"start":219.85000000000005,"text":"But the view in Abu Dhabi was that the conflict revealed which of its partners could be relied upon in a crisis. "}],[{"start":226.50000000000006,"text":"The UAE’s state news agency said last week that Netanyahu was among regional leaders who called Sheikh Mohamed to express “condemnation” of Iranian “terrorist” attacks targeting the Gulf state. "}],[{"start":239.05000000000007,"text":"Naftali Bennett, now in opposition, became the first Israeli leader to visit the UAE in 2021 when he was prime minister."}],[{"start":253.40000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778718985_8798.mp3"}