Report: Shin Bet Chief David Zini Met With Mohammed Dahlan in the UAE

Shin Bet chief David Zini recently met in the United Arab Emirates with Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Fatah figure, according to a report published this morning (Tuesday) by Kan News on Reshet Bet. In response to the report, the Israel Security Agency said: "We do not comment on the service chief’s schedule."

Dahlan, who previously served as head of Preventive Security in the Gaza Strip and was once considered one of the most powerful figures in Fatah, has spent years in exile in Abu Dhabi. Today, he serves as an adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and maintains ties with regional players. During the war, he positioned himself as the person overseeing the broad aid operation the Emirates has been sending to the Gaza Strip.

In October 2024, it was reported that concerns had been raised within Israel’s defense establishment over the possibility that Dahlan could eventually receive a significant role in controlling the Strip. Although he publicly tried to distance himself from that possibility, Israel did not completely rule it out. In a response quoted at the time by Sky News Arabia, Dahlan said: "I have stated more than once my refusal to accept any security, ministerial, or executive role, and I am calling for the development of a realistic and workable international action plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."

Last February, Kan News reported that former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had also met with Dahlan in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this month, it was also reported that Shin Bet chief Zini made a precedent-setting visit to the United Arab Emirates, against the backdrop of the ceasefire and tensions with Iran—a visit that symbolized closer security ties between the two countries.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Mossad chief David Barnea also visited the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran. According to the report, Barnea arrived in the country at least twice during the 40 days of fighting for security coordination related to the campaign, with official Arab sources and a source familiar with the details saying the secret visits took place in March and April.