JERUSALEM — Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia Sunday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, media said, in the first reported trip by an Israeli premier to the kingdom. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Israel last week, was also at the reported talks, a diplomatic correspondent at Israeli public broadcaster Kan said on Monday. Multiple other Israeli media outlets reported on a Netanyahu trip to Saudi Arabia, including prominent diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid of Walla News and Axios, who reported Netanyahu and Cohen flew on a plane belonging to an Israeli businessman Udi Angel. The Saudi royal court and media ministry did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment on the reported meeting between Netanyahu, Prince Mohamed, and Pompeo. Israeli experts have raised questions about the prospects of expanding the Abraham Accords under US President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, particularly with respect to Saudi Arabia.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 23, 2020 11:48 UTC