New York Times Affirms Haaretz Report: Netanyahu Was Warned About Oct. 7

Key Points:

• The New York Times corroborated Haaretz's report that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Prime Minister Netanyahu in September 2023 about Hamas planning a major attack, which preceded the October 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel.
• Despite receiving the warning, Netanyahu reportedly did not inform Israel's security establishment or take preemptive military action, allegedly due to concerns about diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
• Netanyahu denied receiving the UAE warning and threatened legal action against Haaretz, which stood by its reporting; the UAE has neither confirmed nor denied the details but acknowledged high-level security discussions occur through official channels.
• The revelations have sparked criticism of Netanyahu for failing to act on intelligence and have intensified political tensions ahead of Israel's October 27 parliamentary elections, with some analysts doubting his chances of remaining prime minister.
• Concurrently, Netanyahu traveled to the UN amid an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over Israel's actions in Gaza, while Israel's Central Elections Committee disqualified all Arab-majority parties, a decision pending Supreme Court review.