Media reports Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for secret talks

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israel’s Channel 12 has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen flew to Saudi Arabia Sunday for a secret meeting with officials there, All Israel News (AIN) reports. Although the meeting has not been confirmed by the Prime Minister’s office, the news has caused speculation that, following Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia may become the next Arab state to normalize relations with Israel.

According to AIN, two unidentified direct flights flew Sunday from Tel Aviv to the Red Sea city of Neom in the Tabuk province of north-western Saudi Arabia. Also reporting on the unconfirmed meeting, BBC News stated flight tracking data showed a plane previously used by Mr. Netanyahu as traveling to Neom

This would be the first known meeting between Israeli and Saudi leaders: Israel and Saudi Arabia have a history of war and remain official enemies with no diplomatic ties at all.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu did not tell Defense Minister Benny Gantz Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi about the meeting with Saudi officials.

While Saudi Arabia has cautiously welcomed the normalization accords between Israel and Bahrain, Sudan and the UAE, it has so far held back from entering a peace agreement with Israel on the grounds that there must first be a solution for the Palestinians.

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