Ambassador to the UAE Yossi Shelley will soon be sent back to Israel, Israeli television reported Tuesday, amid diplomatic fallout over an incident involving the envoy at a bar in the Emirates several months ago.

Channel 12 news reported last week that Shelley, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had been out on a Friday night in the United Arab Emirates city of Abu Dhabi with several friends and acted in an “undignified” manner. The Emirati government heard about the alleged incident and communicated its anger to Israel through unofficial channels.

According to the report on Tuesday, people close to Netanyahu are already looking for a new role to give Shelley once he is stripped of his ambassadorship.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied the report, however, saying in a statement: “Contrary to reports, Prime Minister Netanyahu has not decided to return the Israeli ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Yossi Shelley, to Israel.”

The details of the bar incident — which was successfully kept out of the media for months — are still not known and it is unclear whether there is any documentation.

The Kan public broadcaster first reported last week about the tension between the ambassador and the Emirati government. A subsequent Channel 12 report quoted three sources familiar with the incident saying that Shelley “crossed the boundaries of personal space.”

“Shelley’s behavior was not acceptable and even harms our honor,” the Gulf state reportedly told Israel through an intermediary.

Shelley’s bodyguards witnessed the incident and reported it to their superiors, according to Channel 12.

In a statement last week, Shelley said he was made aware of conduct that the Emiratis interpreted as disrespectful. He stressed that it took place at a private event and was not related to his work as ambassador. In light of the concern raised, he said he has considered the matter.

There was no immediate comment from Shelley on Tuesday’s report.

Last week, an Emirati source, described as close to the government and familiar with the details, told Channel 12: “This incident did not showcase the behavior expected of someone who is supposed to symbolize the tightening bonds between the two countries, and certainly not someone who is supposed to represent their shared interests.”

Were it not for Shelley’s position, the UAE would have ordered Shelley to leave the country, the source said.

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates became the most prominent Arab state in 30 years to establish formal ties with Israel under a US-brokered agreement dubbed the Abraham Accords.

The UAE has maintained the relationship during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Emirati government, though staunchly anti-Hamas, has been hugely critical of Jerusalem’s handling of the war.