ANI
23 May 2023, 04:18 GMT+10
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 22 (ANI/TPS): Israel is working with Saudi Arabia to allow direct flights for its Muslim citizens who will undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca next month, the Foreign Ministry in Tel Aviv said Monday.
A ministry spokesman told the Tazpit Press Service that Israel was working to reach an agreement over the flights. Saudi approval for them would be another step forward in normalization between the nations.
Israel has issued a formal request for the flights and is awaiting the Saudi response, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said earlier this month.
Israel's top diplomat said this weekend that normalisation with Saudi Arabia could happen within six months.
Currently, Israelis who undertake the annual pilgrimage have to travel through third countries such as Jordan, incurring increased expenses on both the outbound and return journeys. About 18 per cent of Israeli citizens are Muslim. Around 6,000 Israelis make the Hajj each year.
Biden administration officials predicted last year that such flights would be arranged.
Saudi Arabia has allowed Israeli commercial planes to overfly its territory since the summer of 2022.
Israeli officials have noted that the confirmation could come next month at the eleventh hour, just before the pilgrimage begins.
The Hajj, which is set to take place this year between June 26 and July 1, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligatory pilgrimage for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking it.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly voiced the hope of reaching a peace accord with Saudi Arabia, saying it would be a "quantum leap" for regional peace that would effectively end the Arab-Israeli conflict. (ANI/TPS)
Get a daily dose of Iraq Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iraq Sun.
More InformationNEWARK, New Jersey: Six years after his 2016 presidential campaign failed to succeed, Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor, will ...
TOKYO, Japan: To counter the declining national birthrate, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to double spending over the next ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Reuters has reported that on 7th June, former Vice President Mike Pence will enter the race for the ...
PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea attempt failed to launch a satellite on May 31, which prompted raid sirens and a ...
HONG KONG, China: Describing the lack of women in China's top leadership as concerning, the United Nations has recommended the ...
BEIJING, China: Amid its rivalry with the US for reaching new milestones in space, reflecting their competition for global influence, ...
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 5 (ANI): Rowlin Borges celebrated his 31st birthday today, surrounded by his Blue Tigers teammates. Another ...
ThePRTreeNew Delhi [India], June 5: Global Skill Academy, a brainchild of entrepreneur SaleemNawaz Mandi Shaikh has recently been creating a ...
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, state media reported, as the kingdom ...
© Provided by Xinhua GAZA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Local farmers from the Palestinian coastal enclave complained that they could ...
Abu Dhabi [UAE], June 5 (ANI/WAM): UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received a written ...
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Indian football team will be back in action as they prepare for consecutive ...