Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Saudi Arabia denies holding secret talks with Israeli Prime Minister

Israel recently established full diplomatic relations with two other Gulf Arab states.

• November 23, 2020
Netanyahu and bin Salman
Netanyahu and bin Salman

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Saud on Monday denied reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret trip to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Israeli news outlets reported Netanyahu went for a meeting that was also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday.

“I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials” during Pompeo’s visit,” Mr. Faisal wrote on Twitter. “No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi.”

Earlier on Monday, the Haaretz newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources, that Netanyahu was accompanied by the head of the intelligence agency Mossad, Jossi Cohen, to the Saudi city of Neom for the talks.

The apparent visit, which was not confirmed by Netanyahu’s office, comes after Israel established full diplomatic relations with two other Gulf Arab states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The newly allied countries share a common enemy in Iran, which they see as the biggest threat to peace in the region.

Saudi Arabia, a traditional Sunni rival to Shiite Iran, had reacted with caution to Israel’s establishment of diplomatic ties with its much smaller neighbours.

Riyadh has, however, allowed flights between Israel and the two Gulf states to fly over its territory.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri

States

Bayelsa governor vows to sack any appointees engaging in politics ahead of 2027

Mr Diri urged the people to engage in other profitable ventures rather than politicking when it was not yet time to do so.

Polio immunisation vaccine

Heading 2

Nigeria still vaccinating against polio to curb vaccine-derived risk: WHO

Mr Mohammed stated, “Only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, still report cases of wild poliovirus.’’

Jos market

States

Fire guts Jos market, destroys 500 makeshift shops 

Ms Ramnap called on residents of the state to desist from spreading falsehoods about the incident on social media.

Image used to illustrate the story

States

Ondo Amotekun arrests 750 suspected kidnappers, bandits, armed in three months

Mr Adetunji explained that 175 among the crime suspects were being prosecuted.

Davido

Showbiz

Nigeria, other African countries have “worst governments”: Davido

Davido said, “I’m happy that entertainment switched the narrative.’’

Lady Justice photo used to illustrate the story

Heading 4

Appeal Court upholds three-year jail term for professor over electoral fraud  

Mr Ogban was found guilty of announcing fake election results in Oruk Anam.