Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen hinted on Wednesday that a visit to Saudi Arabia was possible in the future and predicted that at least one more Arab country would normalize ties with Israel this year.
Cohen made the comments while on a state visit to Azerbaijan, during an interview with Israel’s Army Radio. He said that the issue of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia came up during US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week.
Cohen emphasized that Israel’s enemy is not Saudi Arabia but Iran. He suggested that if Riyadh restores ties with Tehran, it could lead to a closer relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“This thing that can lead to a balancing act of [Saudi Arabia] moving closer to Israel,” he said.
The foreign minister also said that at least one more country would join the Abraham Accords this year. The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco have already established diplomatic ties with Israel under the accords.
In addition, Cohen discussed his country’s relationship with Palestine. On Wednesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jeddah to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to Palestinian WAFA news agency.
The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine. Israel has faced criticism from the international community for its treatment of Palestinians and its policies regarding the occupied territories.
Normalization of ties between Israel and Arab countries has been a significant development in the region. However, it has also drawn criticism from some who argue that it undermines the Palestinian cause and their struggle for statehood.
The possibility of a visit to Saudi Arabia by an Israeli official would be a significant step in furthering ties between the two countries. However, it remains to be seen when such a visit will take place and what it will entail.
