On Wednesday, Israel hoped Saudi officials would allow direct flights for its Muslim residents to perform the Haj pilgrimage next month, another step toward normalizing relations.
Saudia Arabia supported Israel’s U.S.-sponsored ties with Gulf neighbors UAE and Bahrain in 2020 but has not followed suit, saying Palestinian statehood objectives should be handled first.
However, Riyadh’s tensions with U.S. President Joe Biden, its recent reconciliation with regional rival Iran, a foe of Israel, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right Israeli government have clouded such prospects.
On March 10, Netanyahu’s moderate predecessor, Yair Lapid, revealed that as prime minister last year, he gained Saudi agreement for Israel’s first direct Haj flights. 18% of Israelis are Muslim. Riyadh is silent.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he had requested direct flights for next month’s pilgrimage to Mecca.
“We’re discussing this. “I can’t say if there’s progress,” he told Israel Army Radio. “But with that, I am optimistic we can advance peace with Saudi Arabia.”
Last June, the Biden administration predicted Haj charter flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia. However, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday that it was “unclear” if the planes would go.
Israeli and Palestinian Muslims go to Mecca via third-party nations, which can be costly and inconvenient.
Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has allowed Israeli airlines to overfly it to UAE, Bahrain, and other destinations.
