Israeli Officials Express Optimism Over Normalization With Saudi Arabia

Israeli officials have expressed optimism over a possible breakthrough in the ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries as part of President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.

“We’ll continue to advance Israel’s integration into the region, expand emerging forums and engagement,” Biden said upon arrival in Israel. “Greater peace, greater stability, greater connection. It’s critical. It’s critical, if I might add, for all the people of the region.”

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog told IDF Radio on Thursday morning that “we are moving in the direction of Israeli-Saudi normalization. It will be a gradual process. It will not happen all at once, as happened with the United Arab Emirates, but I estimate that we will begin to see its buds already during President Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia.”

CNN reported that Saudi Arabia is expected to announce this week that it will allow all commercial flights to and from Israel to use its airspace and allow Israel’s Muslims to take charter flights directly to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

However, Saudi sources are quoted as saying that the road to full normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still very long. Saudi Arabia expects significant progress in the diplomatic process with the Palestinian Authority before it will take any steps.