The U.S. delegation also included U.S. envoy for Iran Brian Hook and envoy for Middle Eastern affairs Avi Berkowitz. Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and several Israeli ministries’ directors general were also present on the flight. “While this is a historic flight, we hope that this will start an even more historic journey for the Middle East and beyond,” Kushner told reporters ahead of the flight. Kushner told reporters traveling aboard the flight that he was hopeful the trip would be symbolic that "peace is possible." Although Saudi Arabia typically maintains a policy of boycotting Israel in support of Palestinians, the flight was permitted to pass over Riyadh en route to the UAE.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 31, 2020 12:34 UTC