Israel says hoped-for direct Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia won't happen now
Israeli and US officials had predicted that the kingdom, home to Islam's two holiest sites, might as a goodwill gesture let members of Israel's 18% Muslim minority fly in directly for this year's Hajj
By REUTERS
Israel said on Monday that hoped-for direct flights to Saudi Arabia for the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage would not happen this year, and played down any prospects of an imminent US-mediated normalization of relations with Riyadh.
Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia gave its quiet assent to Gulf neighbors United Arab Emirates and Bahrain forging ties with Israel in 2020. But it has held off on following suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first.
Still, Israeli and US officials had predicted that the kingdom, home to Islam's two holiest sites, might as a goodwill gesture let members of Israel's 18% Muslim minority fly in directly for this year's Hajj. Riyadh never formally offered that, however.
more.............. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-746832
Israeli and US officials had predicted that the kingdom, home to Islam's two holiest sites, might as a goodwill gesture let members of Israel's 18% Muslim minority fly in directly for this year's Hajj
By REUTERS
Israel said on Monday that hoped-for direct flights to Saudi Arabia for the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage would not happen this year, and played down any prospects of an imminent US-mediated normalization of relations with Riyadh.
Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia gave its quiet assent to Gulf neighbors United Arab Emirates and Bahrain forging ties with Israel in 2020. But it has held off on following suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first.
Still, Israeli and US officials had predicted that the kingdom, home to Islam's two holiest sites, might as a goodwill gesture let members of Israel's 18% Muslim minority fly in directly for this year's Hajj. Riyadh never formally offered that, however.
more.............. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-746832