SAUDI ARABIA
Shh!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Sunday in Saudi Arabia, a first meeting amid US attempts to normalize relations between the longtime foes, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Two Saudi officials told the Journal that Netanyahu and Mossad director, Yossi Cohen, secretly met with the crown prince and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The leaders discussed a myriad of issues, including normalizing ties and how to handle Iran’s role in the region.
While the meeting was heavily reported on by Israeli media, Saudi Arabia officially denied it ever took place.
Israel normalized ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan earlier this year after a push by US President Donald Trump to elevate the status of the Jewish state in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has previously said it is open to creating a relationship with Israel but only after the establishment of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.
If Saudi Arabia and Israel agree to normalize relations before a Palestinian state is established, it could create a shakeup in the region and upend decades of Arab state policy, the newspaper said.
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