Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s decision to publicly confirm his previously undisclosed wartime trip to the United Arab Emirates was reportedly driven by political considerations tied to a possible visit by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, according to a report aired Sunday night on Channel 12.

Last Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office took the unusual step of officially confirming a Channel 13 report stating that Netanyahu had traveled to the UAE during the war with Iran. The confirmation reportedly triggered significant tensions with Abu Dhabi, whose leadership had specifically requested that the meeting remain confidential.

According to the report, Emirati officials were displeased that the visit became public, particularly after explicitly asking that the meeting remain secret. Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s office chose to release details of the trip, leading to what the report described as a serious diplomatic dispute with the UAE at a time when Israel and the Emirates are cooperating closely on multiple fronts, including matters connected to the conflict with Iran.

Channel 12 reported Sunday that the motivation behind Netanyahu’s decision was entirely political.

According to the report, Netanyahu learned that Bennett — viewed as one of his primary political rivals — was scheduled to visit the UAE on Thursday, one day after Netanyahu’s own visit became public. Bennett was reportedly expected to meet with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and other senior Emirati officials.

Based on information from two sources familiar with the matter, Netanyahu did not want a situation in which Bennett’s visit would be publicly acknowledged while his own remained secret, potentially creating the impression that the Emiratis were willing to host Bennett openly but not Netanyahu.

Although Bennett’s trip has not been publicly confirmed, the report stated that Netanyahu’s concern that it eventually would become public led him to approve disclosure of his own visit — despite longstanding understandings regarding confidentiality with the Emiratis.

A spokesperson for Bennett declined to confirm the details and refused to comment on whether the visit had taken place. Netanyahu’s office denied the report entirely.