Netanyahu and Hegseth convene privately at Ovda air base shortly before Israeli polls

The undisclosed encounter takes place one week ahead of Israeli elections during ongoing US-Israel talks on restarting operations against Iran, sources indicate.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks in Israel on Monday, according to two sources who spoke with Walla on Tuesday.

US officials told The Jerusalem Post that United Arab Emirates representatives did not attend the gathering, contrary to some earlier accounts.

The undisclosed encounter takes place one week ahead of Israeli elections during ongoing US-Israel talks on restarting operations against Iran, sources indicate.

Additional participants joined the discussion, among them several Emirati representatives.

Netanyahu and Hegseth gather at southern Israel air facility

The two leaders met at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, a site used by the US for refueling aircraft and fighter jets, Axios reported citing two sources.

Hegseth also visited with American service members stationed at the base, the account noted from a knowledgeable source.

The US official later shared a photo of the trip on X, writing that it showed the best of the country on a historic mission with a message of Godspeed.

The Pentagon and Israeli Embassy declined to comment on the report to Walla, while the Prime Minister Office had not responded immediately.