NYN | News
The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom published a report on Wednesday revealing that communications between Saudi Arabia and Israel have continued at an active pace amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The report explained that researcher Nirit Ofer played a key role in facilitating the participation of Israeli teams in the Dakar Rally, which was hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2021. She also helped organize business deals and public lectures inside the Kingdom.
Quoting an American diplomat, the report stated that the coming year could witness a significant political and economic rapprochement between the two sides, particularly ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections—an indication of possible open normalization.
The report noted that Riyadh, through this openness, seeks to attract investments and advance the goals of its Vision 2030plan, by cooperating with Tel Aviv in the fields of technology, energy, and cybersecurity.
It also confirmed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pursuing a defensive alliance with Washington that would include Israel, with the aim of confronting Iran and its regional proxies.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia provided field support to Israel during its confrontation with Iran last June by intercepting drones that were targeting Israeli sites.
The report accused Hamas of attempting to derail the normalization process through the October 7 attack, explaining that this process was temporarily hindered under the Biden administration but has returned to the forefront with Donald Trump’s reemergence on the political scene.
In contrast, the report described the United Arab Emirates as “Israel’s true friend,” noting that Emirati flights have continued to Ben Gurion Airport during the war, alongside the provision of logistical support.
