Israeli Cabinet Minister Arrives in Saudi Arabia in First Public Visit

SEP 26 2023·Updated AUG 27

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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to attend a tourism conference, in what his office called the first public trip to Saudi Arabia by an Israeli cabinet member.
Reuters
He is leading a delegation on a two-day visit to the kingdom as part of a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) event that is set to coincide with World Tourism Day on Wednesday.
The Times of Israel
This comes as normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel have gained momentum, with Communications Minister Shlomo Kahri also due to arrive in Riyadh next week for the Universal Postal Union conference.
Haaretz
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who reportedly held a secret meeting in 2020 — revealed last week that both countries are each day getting closer to a normalization deal.
The Cradle
Also on Tuesday, Riyadh sent a delegation to the West Bank for the first time in decades, underscoring its commitment to the Palestinian cause, even as the country forges closer ties with Israel.
Al Jazeera
Nearly two decades ago, Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations endorsed the Arab Peace Initiative, pledging not to diplomatically recognize Israel without a fair settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Associated Press

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Though the US has praised a potential Saudi-Israel normalization as a breakthrough that would push the Middle East to stability, this move would, in fact, help authoritarian regimes to expand their power grab across the region and establish a transnational repression network. This looming deal is a political disaster in the making.

Middle East Eye

Pro-establishment narrative

This visit is the latest in a string of cheering developments related to normalizing Saudi-Israel relations, an effort that can benefit both countries and the US while upsetting the greatest threat to regional stability Iran, as well as China and Russia. Once this deal is finally struck, a new era of peace will emerge in the Middle East.