The visit comes against the backdrop of reports of discussions being conducted by the United States with the aim of normalizing relations between the two countries.
An Agence France-Presse correspondent saw the members of the delegation sitting in the meeting room with a sign on the table in front of them that read “Israel” in English.
An Israeli official, who requested to remain anonymous, said, “We are pleased to be in Riyadh. It is a good first step,” adding, “We thank UNESCO and the Saudi authorities.”
The official confirmed that the five members of the delegation obtained visas to enter the Kingdom through the international organization, and they arrived on Sunday on a flight from Dubai Airport in the neighboring Emirates, noting that there are no direct flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
He explained that the delegation will remain in Saudi Arabia “for the duration of the conference,” which continues until September 25.
Saudi Arabia has been stressing for many years that the normalization of its relations with Israel and its recognition of it depend on implementing the two-state solution with the Palestinians. The Kingdom did not join the Abraham Accords concluded in 2020, which were brokered by the United States and under which Israel established relations with the Kingdom’s neighbors, the UAE and Bahrain. Sudan and Morocco joined them.
Before that, Israel did not establish official relations with Arab countries other than Egypt and Jordan under two peace agreements signed decades ago.
© 2023 AFP
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2023-09-11 09:32:08
