MKs to Visit Saudi, Recognized Relations with ’Israel’ Come to the Light

Local Editor

Arab-"Israeli" member of the Knesset Issawi Frej told Zionist media on Sunday that preparations are ongoing for a visit of opposition members in the "Israeli" parliament to Saudi Arabia-a first of its kind.

Frej, 52, member of the left-leaning Meretz party told the broadcasting service Voice of "Israel" that a Saudi delegation that visited the occupied territories last week and met with opposition MPs expressed willingness to enhance relations with the Zionist entity.

The Saudi delegation was headed by retired general Anwar Eshki and included academics and businessmen but, according to "Israeli" media, did not include officials.

However, the delegation met with Zionist officials including director general of the "Israeli" foreign ministry Dore Gold.

Both the Saudi visit and the planned "Israeli" one serve as an example of the rapidly developing bilateral relations between the two sides that have been officially unrecognized since the two close-in-age parts were established.

The first announced cooperation between both sides came this year in April as the "Israeli" war minister Moshe Ya'alon told media that, as part of the Egyptian-Saudi maritime demarcation deal which saw the transfer of sovereignty of two Red Sea islands to the Gulf kingdom, a quartet agreement that included the US on the transfer needed to be reached beforehand.

Ya'alon also said that Saudi Arabia agreed to ensure free shipping for all parties through the straits.

According to "Israeli" media, the deal was part of the subjects of mutual interest that were in discussion when Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited the occupied lands earlier this month.

The deal was publicly criticized in Egypt and was recently annulled by a court ruling. However, an appeal by the government is being reviewed by the High Administrative Court.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team