Israel starts efforts to establish ties with Saudi

Jerusalem: Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that, like other Arab countries, cooperation with Saudi Arabia can be established and it will be in Israel’s interest. Israel is working for that. Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reportedly agreed to a deal to transfer the islands of Sanafir and Tiran. Meanwhile, a large delegation of Israeli businessmen is on a special visit to Saudi Arabia. Against this background, the Israeli Foreign Minister has made this announcement.

In the last ten days, developments in the Middle East have gained momentum. One week ago, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman were in the United States at the same time. The two Israeli and Saudi leaders visited the Pentagon a few hours apart. According to US media reports, Israeli and Saudi leaders were accommodated in the same hotel in Washington. Later, the United States mediated between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

A US News Agency reported that the transfer of the two islands of Sanafir and Tiran, south of Egypt’s Sinai province and at the mouth of the Red Sea, could be a topic of discussions between Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian government is returning Sanafir and Tiran islands to Saudi Arabia. The islands are located on the route to the Israeli port city of Eliot. According to US media reports, the United States is in talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt through Israel. It was reported that senior US officials had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the purpose.

Israel has not commented on the report, circulating in the international media for the past ten days. Speaking to Israeli Army Radio, Foreign Minister Lapid had publicly acknowledged that cooperation could be established with Saudi Arabia. He also said that Israel was working on this with assistance from the United States and other Arab countries. Establishing Cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be a long-drawn process, Lapid claimed.

A delegation of Israeli businessmen arrived in Saudi Arabia while the Israeli Foreign Minister spoke about the possible cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is claimed to have provided special visas for the delegation. The Israeli news agency said the delegation would try to persuade Saudi investors to invest in Israel. At the same time, there are reports of secret talks between Israeli and Saudi leaders. According to the Israeli news agency, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and former Mossad chiefs Yossi Cohen and Tamir Pardo visited Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had said that Saudi Arabia was also ready to establish cooperation with Israel. Crown Prince Mohammed had also warned Iran, saying that Israel was not an enemy of Saudi Arabia.