Israelis to be allowed to take religious, business trips to Saudi Arabia

Israeli citizens will be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious or business purposes, Israel’s Interior Ministry announced Sunday.

Israeli visitors will still be required to obtain an official invitation, the ministry said, adding that Israeli security officials and other “relevant” bodies coordinated to reach the decision, The Associated Press reported.

Israeli Muslims will now be able to make the mandatory Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca without having to seek special permission from the Israeli government, according to the AP

The two countries lack formal diplomatic relations, but their relationship has gradually thawed amid mutual opposition to Iran, the news service noted, adding that the Saudi government began allowing Air India flights to pass through Saudi airspace on its Israel route in 2018.

The announcement comes shortly before the U.S. plans to unveil its Middle East peace plan. Washington is seeking Saudi support for the proposal, which may be further complicated by the near-certainty that Palestinian leaders will oppose the proposal.

The kingdom, and particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have spearheaded a broad attempt at improving its public image in recent years, including some reforms to women’s rights. Those efforts suffered a major blow, however, after the murder of dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which several intelligence agencies have concluded was ordered by the crown prince.