While the two countries have partnered in several ways historically, curiosity of warmer diplomatic ties is increasing following the first-time landing of an Israeli jet in the Saudi Kingdom early this week.
According to reports, for the first time ever, an Israeli jet landed in Saudi Arabia early this week – a monumental change from longstanding policy wherein Israeli airliners had to prolong their journey to avoid Saudi airspace. The flight landed in the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh, just one day after the first Saudi flight to ever land in Israel took place on Monday.
Amid the Abraham Accords, which were instituted under the Trump administration and involved the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab countries, the exchange of both flights carries a lot more weight. As it stands, Israel has normalized ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, with others in the queue, including Saudi Arabia.
The two flights also follow news that surfaced just last week concerning the current US administration’s efforts to tighten the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which the Kingdom expressed interest in pending several requirements of their own.
Monday and Tuesday’s flights, though not commercial, still send a strong message to the world that something is brewing between the two countries despite the pressure that the Saudi Kingdom is facing from Iran, Israel’s greatest enemy in the region.
