Official Photo of Saudi Foreign Minister with Jewish Rabbi Sparks Widespread Debate Over Normalization Path

NYN | Reports and Analyses 

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held an official meeting with Jewish Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump for combating what Washington describes as “antisemitism.” The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Official Photo Draws Attention

The meeting attracted widespread attention after Saudi authorities published an official photograph showing Rabbi Kaploun alongside the Saudi minister. Visible in the background were portraits of the King of Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince, and the Kingdom’s founder, Abdulaziz Al Saud. Observers considered the image to carry political implications and symbolic messages.

Israeli Media: A Public Step Toward Normalization

For its part, the Israeli channel i24NEWS described the meeting as “official and public,” calling it a historic step that reflects what it termed Saudi Arabia’s “open diplomatic approach,” in reference to developments related to the normalization file.

Reports of Jewish Religious Events in Riyadh

The Israeli report indicated that the meeting follows reports about Torah scroll readings held in Riyadh as part of recent religious events in Saudi Arabia—developments that sparked debate across social media platforms.

Sensitive Timing Amid Ongoing War in Gaza

This public meeting, also covered by Saudi media outlets, comes at a time when Israel continues to face accusations of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, despite the announcement of a ceasefire agreement. Human rights and media reports cite the ongoing blockade and the continued restriction of food, medicine, tents, and shelter supplies from entering the territory.