Israel-Saudi Arabia relations

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen attends an event at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, May 17, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

June 26, 2023, 1:07 am

Foreign minister says Israel ‘very optimistic’ on normalization deal with Saudis

Eli Cohen notes ‘window of opportunity’ for deal before March 2024, after which US likely to focus more on presidential election cycle

By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, center, arrives at the New Global Financial summit in Paris, June 22, 2023 (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

June 23, 2023, 8:25 pm

Israeli officials reportedly blocked from Saudi-hosted Paris event despite invite

Pair may have been removed from guest list in light of government policies in West Bank, recent escalation in violence, according to Hebrew-language report

By ToI Staff

Friends and family attend the funeral of 21-year-old Israeli Harel Masood, who was killed in a terror attack near the Jewish settlement of Eli, in the cemetery in Yesodot, on June 20, 2023. (Liron Moldovan/Flash90)

June 21, 2023, 1:00 pm

Daily Briefing June 21: In grim repeat, deadly terror shooting spurs settler rioting

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian reports on Tuesday’s deadly shooting and its violent fallout; US bureau chief Jacob Magid on cancelation of Negev Forum meetup in Morocco

By ToI Staff

In this photo taken with low shutter speed, Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. (Amr Nabil/AP)

June 20, 2023, 8:01 pm

Flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims won’t be ready for Hajj

While US, Saudi and Israeli officials had been working to get line up by end of month, Hanegbi says they weren’t able to pull it off; reason not said to be political

By Jacob Magid

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives June 16, 2023 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

June 19, 2023, 8:55 am

Report: Israel to back Saudi bid to host key confab, send delegate to campaign event

Amid US pressure to move toward normalization, Jerusalem said set to back Riyadh’s push to be the site of 2030 World Fair’s Expo; representative invited to Monday’s Paris event

By ToI Staff

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (front) walks during a joint press conference with the Saudi foreign minister (not pictured) after a ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State in Riyadh on June 8, 2023. (Ahmed Yosri/Pool/AFP)

June 17, 2023, 7:06 pm

US not optimistic on Israel-Saudi normalization despite boosting efforts — report

NY Times says Netanyahu recently held 40-minute call with Blinken on Saudi demands, while envoy McGurk led delegation to region last week

By ToI Staff

Negev Forum participants hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi on January 10, 2022. (UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry)

June 14, 2023, 6:07 am

US House passes bill to establish special envoy for advancing Abraham Accords

Vote comes days after Blinken said administration already planning to create position, demonstrating determination in Congress to leave footprint on Israel normalization effort

By Jacob Magid

Fahad Nazer, spokesman for Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington, speaks to Arab News in an interview published June 13, 2023. (Screenshot: YouTube; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

June 13, 2023, 10:31 am

Saudi embassy in US: No normalization with Israel without Palestinian state

Diplomatic mission’s spokesman says Riyadh’s position ‘has been clear and has been consistent for many years,’ noting 2002 peace offer still stands

By ToI Staff

File: Benjamin Netanyahu (right) during a Likud party meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 13, 2021; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) speaks during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 14, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90; Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

June 9, 2023, 1:41 pm

Netanyahu: Saudi normalization would be quantum leap forward, change history

PM also tells Sky News that Israel ‘will do what we need to do’ against Iran’s nuclear program, says he’s ‘not sure’ consensus will be achieved on judicial overhaul

By ToI Staff

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a joint news conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2023. (Ahmed Yosri/Pool Photo via AP)

June 8, 2023, 10:39 pm

Saudi FM: Normalization with Israel would have benefits, but less without two states

Asked about Riyadh’s widely reported demand that US back its civilian nuclear program, bin Farhan says kingdom prefers support from US but notes there are other potential ‘bidders’

By Jacob Magid

Defense Minister Benny Gantz and then-outgoing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the Knesset plenum, June 13, 2021. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset)

June 6, 2023, 11:44 pm

Gantz rules out joining gov’t to secure Saudi normalization, would offer safety net

Former defense minister says he could back deal from the opposition, with Riyadh expected to make demands for concessions to Palestinians opposed by PM’s hardline allies

By Jacob Magid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks at the 2023 American Israel public affairs committee policy summit in Washington, DC, on June 5, 2023. (Mandel NGAN / AFP)

June 5, 2023, 9:37 pm

Biden administration planning new post aimed at expanding Abraham Accords

Top US diplomat Blinken tells AIPAC that integrating Israel in region a ‘cornerstone’ of policy, pans Israel for steps undermining Palestinians’ dignity, settlement expansion

By Jacob Magid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud speak to reporters at the State Department in Washington, Oct. 14, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

June 2, 2023, 10:03 pm

Israel normalization on agenda as Blinken heads to Saudi Arabia next week

State Department says secretary will work to advance regional integration and is looking for opportunities short of full-on normalization between Riyadh and Jerusalem

By Jacob Magid and AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, holds a situation assessment with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, left, Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, and Military Secretary Avi Gil at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 11, 2023 (Courtesy)

June 2, 2023, 6:44 pm

Casting wary eye on IAEA, Israel fears US laying groundwork for new Iran deal

Jerusalem worries Washington may be bowing to Iranian demands for a new nuclear pact, and is concerned that Saudi normalization may be used to compensate for its objections

By Lazar Berman

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia takes his seat ahead of a working lunch at the G20 Summit, Nov. 15, 2022, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

June 2, 2023, 3:33 am

Top Biden official flags ‘misreporting’ in Israeli press on Saudi normalization

Assistant secretary of state says there’s been ‘a lot of hyperventilation’ in the media following reports supposedly revealing details of US-led talks between Jerusalem and Riyadh

By Jacob Magid