Israeli minister visits Saudi Arabia in a first

Israeli tourism minister, Haim Katz, visited Saudi Arabia for a United Nations (UN) conference. It is said to be the first public trip of an Israeli cabinet member to Saudi Arabia.

Leading a delegation, Katz arrived in Riyadh to attend the UN event on Tuesday.

“Cooperation in the field of tourism has the potential to bring hearts together, and economic progress,” Katz stated.

The meeting has been held a few days after US President Joe Biden urged the establishment of formal ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“I think such a peace would go a long way first to advance the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict, achieve reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state, and advance a genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinians. This is something within our reach,” Israeli prime minister had said to Biden.

On Tuesday, the same day as Saudi Arabia and Israel met, a Saudi delegation went to the occupied West Bank — first in three decades — to reassure Palestinians that despite the improving relationship with Israel, Saudi Arabia will continue to stand by Palestinians.

“The Palestinian matter is a fundamental pillar,” said Naif bin Bandar Al Sudairi, head of the Saudi delegation and new ambassador to Palestine. He met with top Palestinian diplomat Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah.