Israel asks Saudis to let Mecca pilgrims fly in from Tel Aviv
2 years, 5 months ago

Israel asks Saudis to let Mecca pilgrims fly in from Tel Aviv

Al Jazeera  

Israeli official asks Saudi Arabia to admit direct flights from Tel Aviv for Muslim pilgrims ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the kingdom. Israel’s regional cooperation minister says that he has asked Saudi Arabia to admit direct flights from Tel Aviv for Muslim pilgrims to perform the Hajj, pointing to a possible new accommodation by Riyadh ahead of next week’s visit by US President Joe Biden. “I took this matter up with Saudi Arabia and I really hope that day will come,” he told Israel’s Army Radio, without expanding on where or when such discussions took place. Separately, an Israeli daily newspaper reported that an adviser to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the possibility of holding a meeting between Saudi, American and Israeli officials was being considered during Biden’s visit to the kingdom next week.

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History of this topic

Biden considering trip to Israel in the coming days, but travel isn’t final, according to AP source
1 year, 2 months ago

Biden considering trip to Israel in the coming days, but travel isn’t final, according to AP source

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is considering a trip to Israel in the coming days but no travel has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday. Egypt’s state-run media said el-Sissi told Blinken that Israel’s Gaza operation has exceeded “the right of self-defense” and turned into “a collective punishment.” Blinken told reporters before leaving Egypt that “Israel has the …

Saudi delegation visits Palestinian territories as Israel and Saudi Arabia eye normalization
1 year, 2 months ago

Saudi delegation visits Palestinian territories as Israel and Saudi Arabia eye normalization

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Israeli delegation makes first open visit to Saudi Arabia
1 year, 3 months ago

Israeli delegation makes first open visit to Saudi Arabia

The Hindu  

An Israeli delegation attended a UNESCO meeting in Riyadh on Monday, marking the country's first publicly announced visit to Saudi Arabia as speculation grows about a potential normalisation of ties. Saudi Arabia, which contains two of Islam's holiest sites, does not recognise Israel and did not join the 2020 U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords where Israel established ties with Gulf countries the …

Netanyahu praises 'neighbourly' Saudi Arabia after plane's emergency landing
1 year, 3 months ago

Netanyahu praises 'neighbourly' Saudi Arabia after plane's emergency landing

The Telegraph  

The unexpected landing came amid intense US-led talks on a potential normalisation treaty between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia’s changing approach to Israel Saudi Arabia is gradually opening its airspace to Israel, such as when it allowed President Joe Biden to fly directly from Tel Aviv to Jeddah last year during a regional visit. They reportedly remain reluctant to …

Israel discussing possible direct Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia
1 year, 7 months ago

Israel discussing possible direct Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera  

Israel’s foreign minister says request submitted and “issue is under discussion”. Israel has expressed hope that authorities in Saudi Arabia would allow direct flights for its Muslim citizens who want to make the Hajj pilgrimage, which takes place next month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s predecessor, Yair Lapid, said in March that as prime minister in 2022, he had gotten …

Analysis: How much closer can Biden bring Saudi Arabia to Israel?
2 years, 5 months ago

Analysis: How much closer can Biden bring Saudi Arabia to Israel?

Al Jazeera  

Riyadh and Tel Aviv have edged closer to full normalisation, but a deal is unlikely during Biden’s trip to Jeddah. “I think that in this sense more steps can be taken following Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, whether it comes to business, tourism, or indirect communication between the two sides.” Looking ahead, if Saudi Arabia gives the go-ahead to other …

Saudi Arabia opens up airspace to all airlines, including Israeli
2 years, 5 months ago

Saudi Arabia opens up airspace to all airlines, including Israeli

Al Jazeera  

Saudi Arabia says it will open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel. Saudi Arabia says it will open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel – a further sign that relations between the two countries are warming. United States President Joe …

Saudi Arabia opens airspace to Israeli flights
2 years, 5 months ago

Saudi Arabia opens airspace to Israeli flights

CNN  

CNN — Saudi Arabia on Friday opened its airspace to all civilian carriers, including all flights to and from Israel, in a step toward normalizing relations between the two nations as US President Joe Biden tours the Middle East. In a statement shared hours before he was due to fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia, Biden hailed the kingdom’s …

Joe Biden arrives in Middle East on first trip as US president
2 years, 5 months ago

Joe Biden arrives in Middle East on first trip as US president

Al Jazeera  

US leader will visit Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia during four-day trip. Arriving on Air Force One at Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday, Biden was warmly greeted by Israeli officials and, in a speech, described the US’s connection with the country as “bone-deep”. “The PA is continuing to bet on the Americans and the delusion that Biden’s …

News Analysis: Biden avoiding some hard topics over looming Saudi Arabia visit
2 years, 5 months ago

News Analysis: Biden avoiding some hard topics over looming Saudi Arabia visit

LA Times  

President Biden greets Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday. Pressed last month on whether the president stands by his comments during the 2020 campaign that the Saudis were a “rogue” regime and international “pariah,” Biden’s press secretary fought hard to avoid answering directly. Biden also did not reference Khashoggi’s murder, only acknowledging “that …

US envoy to combat anti-Semitism to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel
2 years, 6 months ago

US envoy to combat anti-Semitism to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel

Al Jazeera  

Deborah Lipstadt will promote normalisation between Israel and Arab states during her trip, US State Department says. Deborah Lipstadt, the US envoy to combat anti-Semitism, will travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ahead of a visit by President Joe Biden to the region, the State Department has announced. Saudi officials have repeatedly voiced commitment to the …

Israel hopes Biden trip helps tighten ties with Saudi Arabia
2 years, 6 months ago

Israel hopes Biden trip helps tighten ties with Saudi Arabia

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Israel is looking to U.S. President Joe Biden’s Mideast trip next month to bolster its efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, a country with which it does not have official ties, according to Israel’s foreign minister. At a news conference in Jerusalem, Lapid was asked about his expectations from Biden’s expected stop in the kingdom and first …

Israel hopes Biden trip helps improve ties with Saudi Arabia
2 years, 6 months ago

Israel hopes Biden trip helps improve ties with Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera  

Arab countries have refused to forge ties with Israel, which has illegally occupied the Palestinian territories. Israel’s foreign minister has said that his country was looking to US President Joe Biden’s Middle East trip next month to help improve relations with Saudi Arabia, a country with which it does not have official ties. But he joked that, “Air Force One …

Biden to visit ‘pariah’ Saudi Arabia and Israel next month
2 years, 6 months ago

Biden to visit ‘pariah’ Saudi Arabia and Israel next month

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden confirmed Tuesday that he will visit Saudi Arabia next month for talks with its leaders, a dramatic change in his stance on the kingdom that he pledged to make a “pariah” as a Democratic candidate for the White House. In a brief exchange with reporters Tuesday, Biden bristled when asked about his upcoming visit to …

Biden to visit Saudi Arabia after a stop in Israel, determining it’s time to engage kingdom he once called a ‘pariah’
2 years, 6 months ago

Biden to visit Saudi Arabia after a stop in Israel, determining it’s time to engage kingdom he once called a ‘pariah’

CNN  

CNN — President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia next month, the White House announced Tuesday, a foreign policy trade-off that completes the reversal of his campaign pledge to make the kingdom a “pariah.” The trip, set for mid-July, will also include Biden’s first stop in Israel as President as well as a visit to the Palestinian West Bank. “The …

Biden to visit Israel and ‘pariah’ Saudi Arabia next month
2 years, 6 months ago

Biden to visit Israel and ‘pariah’ Saudi Arabia next month

India TV News  

Highlights Biden plans to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Biden’s first stop during the Middle East swing will be in Israel to meet PM Naftali Bennett Biden is expected to meet the athletes taking part in the Maccabiah Games. President Joe Biden will make his first trip to the Middle East next month with visits to Israel, the …

US officials confirm Biden to visit Saudi Arabia, meet MBS
2 years, 6 months ago

US officials confirm Biden to visit Saudi Arabia, meet MBS

Al Jazeera  

US president will make first Middle East visit next month, with stops in Israel, occupied West Bank, and Saudi Arabia. The White House has confirmed details of US President Joe Biden’s first trip to the Middle East, including a controversial stop in Saudi Arabia and an expected meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The stop in Saudi Arabia …

Saudi Arabia allows Israeli commercial planes to use its airspace
4 years ago

Saudi Arabia allows Israeli commercial planes to use its airspace

Al Jazeera  

Riyadh gives approval night before low-cost Israir due to fly its first planned route to the UAE, using Saudi airspace. Saudi Arabia agreed to let Israeli airliners cross its airspace en route to the United Arab Emirates after talks between Saudi officials and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, news agency Reuters and Israeli media outlets have reported. “This should …

Reports: Israeli PM flew to Saudi Arabia, met crown prince
4 years, 1 month ago

Reports: Israeli PM flew to Saudi Arabia, met crown prince

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Israeli media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials. The Israeli news site Walla, followed quickly by other Hebrew-language media, cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu and Yossi …

Iran’s Khamenei says UAE ‘betrayed’ Muslim world with Israel deal
4 years, 3 months ago

Iran’s Khamenei says UAE ‘betrayed’ Muslim world with Israel deal

Al Jazeera  

Supreme leader says UAE allowed ‘Zionist regime to enter region and forgot Palestine’ by normalising Israel ties. The United Arab Emirates betrayed the Islamic world and the Palestinians by reaching a deal towards normalising ties with Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech. “The Emiratis will be disgraced forever… I hope they wake up and compensate …

Israel planning UAE flights over Saudi: Netanyahu
4 years, 4 months ago

Israel planning UAE flights over Saudi: Netanyahu

Live Mint  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel is working on opening a corridor over Saudi Arabia for flights to the UAE, following last week's historic deal to normalise ties. "We are working with maximum energy, and we have already begun to work on opening an air route over Saudi Arabia, which will simply shorten flights between Israel and the …

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