Netanyahu, Hegseth hold covert meeting at Israel's Ovda air base days before Israel's election - Ariella Roitman, Idan Kweller, Amichai Stein

 

by Ariella Roitman, Idan Kweller, Amichai Stein

The unannounced meeting comes eight days before Israeli elections and amid US-Israel discussions to resume combat operations against Iran, according to the report.

 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) during an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., on July 9, 2025.

(photo credit: MEHMET ESER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Israel on Monday, two sources confirmed to Walla on Tuesday.

US sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that representatives of the United Arab Emirates were not present at the meeting, following reports indicating otherwise.

The unannounced meeting comes eight days before Israeli elections and amid US-Israel discussions to resume combat operations against Iran, according to the report.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Israel on Monday, two sources confirmed to Walla on Tuesday.

US sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that representatives of the United Arab Emirates were not present at the meeting, following reports indicating otherwise.

The unannounced meeting comes eight days before Israeli elections and amid US-Israel discussions to resume combat operations against Iran, according to the report.

Other individuals were present at the meeting, including Emirati figures.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth provides updates on the continued military operations on Iran 2during a press briefing on the Iran war at the Pentagon on March 19, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia;illustrative (credit: Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Netanyahu, Hegseth meet at Ovda Air Base

The leaders met at the Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where the US deploys refueling planes and fighter jets, Axios cited two sources as saying.

Hegseth also met with US troops at the base, the report added, citing a source with knowledge.

Later, the US official posted an image of the visit on X/Twitter. "The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed," Hegseth wrote in the post. 

As always, it was an honor to visit our warfighters in @CENTCOM today. The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed. https://t.co/UO094Mvw1e

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 20, 2026

The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy declined Walla's request for comment, and the Prime Minister's Office didn't immediately respond.

Ariella Roitman, Idan Kweller, Amichai Stein

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-912217

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