'We can make history together' says Israeli minister as he meets Saudi counterpart in UAE
Israel’s Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat met with his Saudi counterpart Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi on the sidelines of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) session in Abu Dhabi on Monday in the latest sign of rapprochement between the two countries.
The two ministers appeared in an online video shaking hands and exchanging business cards, according to Israeli media.
Saudi Arabia and Israel had been edging towards normalisation prior to the start of the conflict in Gaza.
"The State of Israel is interested in peace with peace-seeking countries, and we can make history together," Barkat told Qasabi, according to a statement from the Israeli economy ministry.
Saudi Arabia and Israel were close to reaching a normalisation agreement before the 7 October attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
In 2020 and 2021, Israel reached US-brokered normalisation agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
According to Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, the two sides were about to sign a pact prior to 7 October.
He told the BBC last month that Riyadh is interested in normalisation after the war, but that a deal must entail the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Saudi foreign ministry last month said no normalisation will take place without a ceasefire and progress toward Palestinian statehood.
"The kingdom has communicated its firm position to the US administration that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip," the ministry said in a statement on 7 February.
The statement followed remarks about positive progress on Saudi-Israeli normalisation made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Blinken met with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh last month as part of a Middle East tour.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
