An Israeli minister spoke publicly for the first time in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh about “blossoming ties” between the two countries, the latest sign the duo are inching toward normalizing relations – and even thanked the two leaders, mentioning first the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of the leaders of Saudi Arabia and our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for nurturing the blossoming ties,” Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi said Wednesday in a speech delivered in both English and Arabic at a United Nations conference for the global postal sector.
According to a report in Bloomberg, his unprecedented comments and the historic nature of an Israeli official speaking in public in Saudi Arabia, came after both Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said they are close to concluding a complex three-way deal with the US that could see the Jewish state and the Islamic kingdom formally recognize one another.
The comments come as U.S. officials are reportedly in Saudi Arabia for talks on the matter.
As part of the agreement, Saudi Arabia is seeking binding security and defense commitments from the US and assistance launching a nuclear program on home soil that includes uranium enrichment, Bloomberg reports.
