JERUSALEM: Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz wants
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit, his spokesman said on
Wednesday, in what would be a historic trip involving two nations with
no official diplomatic ties.
Israeli leaders have
repeatedly spoken of improving ties with the Arab world and hinted at
behind-the-scenes cooperation, particularly involving their efforts to
limit their common enemy Iran.
Katz issued the call during an interview with Elaph, a news website run by a Saudi businessman, his spokesman Arye Shalicar said.
The
call was not included in the final version of the interview published
online. Shalicar could not comment on why, but said Katz had indeed made
the comments.
“He said that he asks the king to invite
(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu officially to Riyadh, and he asks
MBS, Mohammed bin Salman, the son, to come and visit Israel,” Shalicar
said of Katz, who is also transportation minister.
Katz
made the call because “he wants regional peace — that’s part of his
three-layered programme,” his spokesman said, referring to security and
economic cooperation leading to eventual peace. He referred to Saudi
Arabia as a leader in the Arab world.
Netanyahu has
spoken repeatedly and with pride about growing rapprochement with
“moderate Arab states” without naming them, although he is assumed to be
referring to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies.
In
November, Israeli military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot said in an
interview with the same website Katz spoke to that his country was
prepared to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to face Iran’s plans “to control
the Middle East.” Arab countries have not made similar statements
publicly and continue to criticise Israel over its 50-year occupation of
Palestinian territory.
