Saudi Arabia and Israel are rapidly developing their diplomatic ties after the Gulf blockade against Qatar was initiated following United States President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh and Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia and Israel prepare to develop diplomatic relations and carry out direct flights between the two countries, The Times reported. Conducting negotiations on developing political and economic relations with Tel Aviv, Riyadh will give Israeli airline El Al permission to use its airspace in its flights, as the first goodwill gesture.
The British journal reported that negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia lie behind the blockade on Qatar, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.
“The Qatar crisis opens up opportunities for Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said previously upon the Qatar crisis. Israel’s efforts to approach Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states was revealed in the previous months. The Gulf states in May told the Netanyahu administration that relations with Israel might be initiated in the event the requirements are met, Wall Street Journal reported. The Gulf states required Israel to stop its occupation policy and lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Trump was the first president to fly to Israel from Riyadh, which he visited on May 20. Touching on this issue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I hope that one day an Israeli prime minister can fly from Tel Aviv to Riyadh.” An officer from the Israel Civil Aviation Authority stated that Trump’s direct flight from Saudi Arabia to Israel might be the “first flight” on the route.
Qatar-based Arabic news broadcaster Al Jazeera's Twitter account was reopened yesterday after it remained closed for a couple of hours. The Twitter account which has millions of followers was suspended. Al Jazeera announced that access to the account would be possible again in a few hours and the suspension was due to “what seems to be an organized campaign." Twitter is yet to make a statements on the issue.
The blackout came after some countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar.
