High-Ranking Israeli Delegation Reported to be in Riyadh

“Americans have abandoned the [Middle-East] region, thus the Saudis seek Israeli help and cooperation...” - Tzvi Yechezkeli, Israeli expert on Arab and Middle-East affairs

Photo of Tzvi Yechezkeli courtesy: voiceofisrael.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - According to the Israel-based Rotter website, a senior Israeli delegation visited the Saudi capital of Riyadh in recent weeks to confer with Saudi leadership over regional developments.

Yesterday, In spite of Israeli Military Censor's explicit proscription, Israeli Channel 10 reported the details of a clandestine visit made by a leading Israeli delegation to KSA, discussing the close relationship between Tel Aviv and Riyadh.

Tzvi Yechezkeli, an Israeli expert on Arab and Middle-East affairs, offered no details on the alleged visit, saying: “due to the strict measures instructed by Israeli Military Censor, further details shall remain shrouded in secrecy.

"For decades, oil-rich Saudi Arabia sought to conceal its surreptitious links with Israel, though this age-old approach changed with King Salman's ascension to the throne along with ambitious princes who don't regard overt ties with Israel as a source of embarrassment".

Yechezkeli added that the Palestinian issue has been pushed to the sidelines and Saudis are eager to boost mutual ties with Israel, “Americans have abandoned the [Middle-East] region, thus the Saudis seek Israeli help and cooperation on issues related to Iran and this evidently bolstered their relationship”.

The political landscape of the Middle-East is rapidly re-shaping as hundreds of Saudi-backed rebels flee to Turkish, Jordanian and Lebanese borders as the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continues making fresh gains in strategic areas, along with a new powerful pro-Hezbollah alliance developed recently in neighbouring Lebanon.

Syrian peace talks and a spectrum of stability in the region faced Israel with the nightmare of a strong Syria and recurring axis of resistance in the international arena.

Political spectators believe the increasing international isolation is the common factor, drawing Riyadh to Tel Aviv and vice versa, hence the timing of recent Israeli visit was primarily used by Saudis to cancel their military aid to Lebanon, inflaming the southern front in Syria and a new media campaign against Hezbollah.