Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, Israeli media reported on Monday.
The main purpose of the trip was to pave the way for a visit to Abu Dhabi by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Walla!.
He is the first Israeli minister to visit the UAE since the establishment of the new government, according to the report.
Earlier this month, reports of a potential prime ministerial trip surfaced after UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called Netanyahu to congratulate him on forming a government, the sixth time he has done so in his record-setting political career.
Monday’s report also suggested that Dermer’s visit was intended to assuage concerns regarding right-wing members of Netanyahu’s government, specifically National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who recently defied Palestinian and international threats by visiting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Thereafter, the UAE requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the matter.