<p>Saudi Arabia is reportedly putting plans of normalisation of ties with Israel on the back burner in light of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reported citing sources. This has signalled rapid rethinking of its foreign policy amid escalation of situation in the Middle East.</p>

<p>The conflict has pushed Saudi Arabia to engage more with Iran, its regional foe. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi with a view to prevent broader surge in violence which may span the entire Middle East.</p>

<p>A Saudi statement said the crown prince told Raisi "the kingdom is exerting maximum effort to engage with all international and regional parties to halt the ongoing escalation", underling Riyadh's move to contain the crisis.</p>

<p>Reuters said that there would now be delay in US-backed talks on normalisation of ties with Israel.</p>

<p>Until Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, both Saudi Arabia and Israel had been saying that they were moving towards a normalisation deal. This had potential to reshape the geopolitical scenario in the Middle East.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's two holiest sites. The kingdom had reportedly indicated till recently that it would not allow its pursuit of a U.S. defence pact be derailed even if Israel did not offer significant concessions to the Palestinians in the their bid for statehood.</p>

<p>As the Israel-Hamas conflict completes a week, at least 1300 Israelis have been killed till now. On the Palestinian side, 1900 people have lost lives.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Israel-Palestine war: Israelis slam authorities for intel failure</strong></p>

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<p>Reuters said that Saudi Arabia is not in a mood to continue normalisation talks with Israel for now and Israeli concessions for Palestinians may assume greater importance in the kingdom's calculus.</p>

<h2><strong>A 'taboo'</strong></h2>

<p>"Normalisation was already considered taboo (in the Arab world) ... this war only amplifies that," Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian said as quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>The US has been working for greater intergration of Israel with the Arab world that immediately surrounds it geohraphically. Washington has been keen to build on the Abraham Accords which saw normalisation of ties between Israel and some Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-video-shows-fighters-with-captive-israeli-children-report-646586">Hamas video shows fighters with captive Israeli children: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>On its part, the US has maintained that normalisation process has not been abandoned.</p>

<p>US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a White House briefing earlier this week that normalisation effort was "not on hold" but also added that the focus was now on other immediate challenges, an apparent reference to Israel-Hamas war.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Saudi Arabia is reportedly putting plans of normalisation of ties with Israel on the back burner in light of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reported citing sources.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly putting plans of normalisation of ties with Israel on the back burner in light of the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reported citing sources. This has signalled rapid rethinking of its foreign policy amid escalation of situation in the Middle East. The conflict has pushed Saudi Arabia to engage more with Iran, its regional foe. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi with a view to prevent broader surge in violence which may span the entire Middle East. A Saudi statement said the crown prince told Raisi "the kingdom is exerting maximum effort to engage with all international and regional parties to halt the ongoing escalation", underling Riyadh's move to contain the crisis. Reuters said that there would now be delay in US-backed talks on normalisation of ties with Israel. Until Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, both Saudi Arabia and Israel had been saying that they were moving towards a normalisation deal. This had potential to reshape the geopolitical scenario in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's two holiest sites. The kingdom had reportedly indicated till recently that it would not allow its pursuit of a U.S. defence pact be derailed even if Israel did not offer significant concessions to the Palestinians in the their bid for statehood. As the Israel-Hamas conflict completes a week, at least 1300 Israelis have been killed till now. On the Palestinian side, 1900 people have lost lives. Watch | Israel-Palestine war: Israelis slam authorities for intel failure × Reuters said that Saudi Arabia is not in a mood to continue normalisation talks with Israel for now and Israeli concessions for Palestinians may assume greater importance in the kingdom's calculus. A 'taboo' "Normalisation was already considered taboo (in the Arab world) ... this war only amplifies that," Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian said as quoted by Reuters. The US has been working for greater intergration of Israel with the Arab world that immediately surrounds it geohraphically. Washington has been keen to build on the Abraham Accords which saw normalisation of ties between Israel and some Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Also Read | Hamas video shows fighters with captive Israeli children: Report On its part, the US has maintained that normalisation process has not been abandoned. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a White House briefing earlier this week that normalisation effort was "not on hold" but also added that the focus was now on other immediate challenges, an apparent reference to Israel-Hamas war. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Saudi Arabia puts normalisation of ties with Israel on hold: Report

<p>Saudi Arabia has declared that it will ease restrictions on "all carriers" operating in&nbsp;its airspace. US President Joe Biden who will be visiting the Kingdom soon welcomed the "historic" decision as an attempt at defusing tensions with Israel. In a statement released by the White House, US&nbsp;hailed this as a result of Biden's "persistent diplomacy". US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the decision was the outcome of the President's "persistent and principled diplomacy with Saudi Arabia over many months, culminating in his visit today," adding that Biden "commends" it.</p>

<p>He added that the US president, who is travelling to the Middle East and will arrive in Saudi Arabia later on Friday, "will have more to say on this breakthrough later today."</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US President Biden &amp; Israeli PM Lapid sign 'Jerusalem declaration'</strong></p>

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<p>Taking to Twitter Saudi's General Authority of Civil Aviation said that it "announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying".&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the statement, the decision was made to "complement the Kingdom's efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents".&nbsp;</p>

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<p>As per an AFP report, in the past, despite Israel's best attempts to forge relationships with Arab nations, Riyadh has refused to recognise the Jewish state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-seeks-to-counter-russian-aggression-chinese-influence-through-his-visit-to-west-asia-next-week-496073">Joe Biden seeks to counter Russian aggression, Chinese influence through his visit to West Asia next week</a></strong></p>

<p>Shortly after the Abraham Accords were announced in 2020, Saudi Arabia declared that UAE planes to "all countries" could overfly the country and even permitted an Israeli plane to fly over while travelling to Abu Dhabi.</p>

<p>Following Friday's announcement, aeroplanes flying to and from Israel are no longer subject to overflight restrictions.</p>

<p>Israel has pushed for the right to use overflights to reduce connections to Asian destinations.</p>

<p>The Israeli government also wants direct flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims who currently have to pay for costly layover costs in other countries.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Saudi Arabia has declared that it will ease restrictions on "all carriers" operating in its airspace. US President Joe Biden who will be visiting the Kingdom soon welcomed the "historic" decision as an attempt at defusing tensions with Israel.

Saudi Arabia has declared that it will ease restrictions on "all carriers" operating in its airspace. US President Joe Biden who will be visiting the Kingdom soon welcomed the "historic" decision as an attempt at defusing tensions with Israel. In a statement released by the White House, US hailed this as a result of Biden's "persistent diplomacy". US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the decision was the outcome of the President's "persistent and principled diplomacy with Saudi Arabia over many months, culminating in his visit today," adding that Biden "commends" it. He added that the US president, who is travelling to the Middle East and will arrive in Saudi Arabia later on Friday, "will have more to say on this breakthrough later today." Watch | US President Biden & Israeli PM Lapid sign 'Jerusalem declaration' Taking to Twitter Saudi's General Authority of Civil Aviation said that it "announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying". As per the statement, the decision was made to "complement the Kingdom's efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents". pic.twitter.com/fLlNtsPkbg — هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) July 14, 2022 × As per an AFP report, in the past, despite Israel's best attempts to forge relationships with Arab nations, Riyadh has refused to recognise the Jewish state. Also read | Joe Biden seeks to counter Russian aggression, Chinese influence through his visit to West Asia next week Shortly after the Abraham Accords were announced in 2020, Saudi Arabia declared that UAE planes to "all countries" could overfly the country and even permitted an Israeli plane to fly over while travelling to Abu Dhabi. Following Friday's announcement, aeroplanes flying to and from Israel are no longer subject to overflight restrictions. Israel has pushed for the right to use overflights to reduce connections to Asian destinations. The Israeli government also wants direct flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims who currently have to pay for costly layover costs in other countries. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Saudi to open airspace to all including Israel, US hails decision as result of Biden's 'persistent diplomacy'

<p>US&nbsp;President Donald Trump while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE and Bahrain leaders&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;said he expected Saudi Arabia to be among seven to nine other Gulf countries to normalise relations with Israel&nbsp;"at the right time".</p>

<p>The Saudi cabinet has stressed&nbsp;the need for a "just and comprehensive solution" to the Palestinian issue to resolve the conflict.</p>

<p>Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Tuesday only an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories can bring peace to the Middle East.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-rockets-fired-from-gaza-as-israel-uae-bahrain-sign-trump-brokered-accords-327792" hreflang="en">Two rockets fired from Gaza as Israel, UAE, Bahrain sign Trump-brokered accords</a></strong></p>

<p>UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahrain foreign minister Abdullatif al-Zayani and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu signed the bilateral accords at the White House and signed a joint declaration along with Trump.</p>

<p>Trump hosted the White House ceremony, capping a dramatic month when first the UAE and then Bahrain agreed to reverse decades of ill will without a resolution of Israel's dispute with the Palestinians.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-or-six-countries-coming-along-very-quickly-says-trump-on-peace-deal-with-israel-327780" hreflang="en">Five or six countries coming along very quickly, says Trump on peace deal with Israel</a></strong></p>

<p>The deals, denounced by the Palestinians, make them the third and fourth Arab states to take such steps to normalise relations since Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia is the biggest Gulf Arab power. Its king is custodian of Islam's holiest sites and rules the world's largest oil exporter. Despite its own reluctance, the kingdom's quiet acquiescence to the agreements was seen as crucial.</p>


US President Donald Trump while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE and Bahrain leaders on Tuesday said he expected Saudi Arabia to be among seven to nine other Gulf countries to normalise relations with Israel "at the right time".

US President Donald Trump while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE and Bahrain leaders on Tuesday said he expected Saudi Arabia to be among seven to nine other Gulf countries to normalise relations with Israel "at the right time". The Saudi cabinet has stressed the need for a "just and comprehensive solution" to the Palestinian issue to resolve the conflict. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Tuesday only an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories can bring peace to the Middle East. Also read: Two rockets fired from Gaza as Israel, UAE, Bahrain sign Trump-brokered accords UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahrain foreign minister Abdullatif al-Zayani and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu signed the bilateral accords at the White House and signed a joint declaration along with Trump. Trump hosted the White House ceremony, capping a dramatic month when first the UAE and then Bahrain agreed to reverse decades of ill will without a resolution of Israel's dispute with the Palestinians. Also read: Five or six countries coming along very quickly, says Trump on peace deal with Israel The deals, denounced by the Palestinians, make them the third and fourth Arab states to take such steps to normalise relations since Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Saudi Arabia is the biggest Gulf Arab power. Its king is custodian of Islam's holiest sites and rules the world's largest oil exporter. Despite its own reluctance, the kingdom's quiet acquiescence to the agreements was seen as crucial.

Saudi Arabia will join UAE-Israel-Bahrain deal at 'right time', says Trump