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Opponents Raise Reported Warning Given Netanyahu
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces scrutiny ahead of next month's election over whether he was warned by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed about a potential Hamas attack before October 7, 2023.
- Sources indicate the warning did not reach Israeli security chiefs, and Netanyahu did not disclose it during an October 1 meeting, instead prioritizing diplomatic progress with Saudi Arabia.
- Netanyahu denies receiving the call and has threatened legal action against the media outlets reporting the story, asserting intelligence would have come through official channels.
- The alleged warning adds to other intelligence failures, including dismissed Hamas plans in 2022 and misjudgments about Hamas's intentions, which critics say undermine Netanyahu's attempts to blame security officials for the attack.
- The controversy intensifies political tensions in Israel as citizens prepare to vote in their first national election since the Hamas attack.
