UAE authorities relayed an unofficial complaint to Israel regarding the behavior of the country’s ambassador, Yossi Shelley, in Abu Dhabi, Israeli media said on Wednesday. 

A report from Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, suggested that the ambassador might be recalled to Israel and see his mission terminated. Shelley was appointed ambassador to Abu Dhabi in August 2024 and assumed office in March 2025.

Channel 12 previously reported on July 24 that Shelley had been involved in an incident at a bar in Dubai, where he allegedly behaved in an “undignified” manner that was unbefitting of an ambassador. The channel did not specify the details of the incident, stating that Shelley was at the bar with several Israeli men and women and that many people present at the venue witnessed the event. According to the report, Emirati authorities expressed their anger unofficially after being informed of the incident by the ambassador’s bodyguards, who were present at the time.

Reacting to the affair, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that contrary to reports, Netanyahu “has not decided to return the Israeli ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Yossi Shelley, to Israel.” Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry stated on Wednesday that Shelley’s return to Israel “was not discussed and is not on the table.”

Nevertheless, Kan published on Wednesday details of three incidents Shelley was allegedly involved in. It is unclear whether any of the three incidents detailed by Kan is the same as the bar episode reported by Channel 12. In the first incident, Shelley reportedly became angry with his Emirati security detail when they insisted he give them two hours' notice before leaving his residence in the evening, saying, “What am I, in prison?”