Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the United Arab Emirates was canceled on Thursday amid a diplomatic crisis with Jordan, and because Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, is being hospitalized with appendicitis.
“These problems apparently stem from the cancellation of the visit to the Temple Mount to the Jordanian Crown Prince, following a dispute over security arrangements at the site,” the PMO said.
By Thursday afternoon, Jordan was ready to allow the flight into its airspace, but Netanyahu and the leader of the UAE, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had already agreed to postpone the visit of the prime minister, for the fourth time since Israel and the UAE. established diplomatic relations in August.
Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah planned to visit the Al-Aksa Mosque on Temple Mount on Wednesday, after coordinating with Israel over his security.
However, the prince arrived at the Israeli border with more armed guards than agreed, Israeli sources said. The additional guards were not allowed to enter Israel, and Hussein canceled his visit.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a meeting with regional council heads on Wednesday that Netanyahu’s poor relationship with Jordanian King Abdullah “is the failure of the Netanyahu government in all its 15 years.”
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“The strategic rift in relations between Israel and Jordan is precisely because of Netanyahu,” he said.
Tensions between Israel and Jordan have been strained during Netanyahu’s tenure, but have warmed slightly. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi three times, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz reportedly met with Jordanian King Abdullah.
Netanyahu’s trip to the UAE was supposed to be his first since announcing the Abraham Accords in August, marking peace and normalization between the Gulf state and Israel.
Netanyahu considered canceling his trip to the United Arab Emirates earlier on Thursday after his wife, Sarah Netanyahu, was hospitalized with appendicitis.
Sarah Netanyahu felt unwell late Wednesday night and went to Hadassah Ein Kerem, where she was diagnosed with appendicitis, and will remain in hospital for several days. Netanyahu accompanied his wife to the hospital.
The prime minister planned to meet with Crown Prince Abu Dhabi Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in the Emirate capital for a two-hour visit.
During a short trip to the UAE, Israeli, Emirati and Saudi officials worked on a possible secret meeting between Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“MBS is ready to meet Bibi,” said a well-placed source from Emirates.
Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have diplomatic relations, but ties between the two countries have become hot, especially in cooperation with their shared rival Iran. Netanyahu and MBS, as the Saudi crown prince is known, met in the Saudi city of Neom in November, although neither of them officially confirmed.
Asked about the meeting with MBS on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: “What is it like to ask questions that you know you will not get an answer to?”
The UAE’s trip would take place less than two weeks before the March 23 election, despite reports that officials in the Emirates were reluctant to take up Netanyahu on a date that would be considered political.
The source in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the election was a consideration, but the UAE leadership decided to welcome Netanyahu regardless of the date.
The prime minister said last month about a planned visit to the UAE: “It has major security, national and international importance.”
Netanyahu also plans to meet with the prime ministers of Hungary and the Czech Republic in Jerusalem on Thursday night to discuss cooperation on the production of COVID-19 vaccines.