Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a United Nations conference, becoming the first Israeli minister to lead a delegation to the kingdom, according to his office.
Katz is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia as part of a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) event coinciding with World Tourism Day on September 27.
“Tourism is a bridge between nations,” Katz said in a statement. “Collaboration in tourism has the potential to bring hearts together and promote economic progress.”
“I will work to advance Israel’s cooperation, tourism and foreign relations,” he said.
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Katz’s visit comes at a time when Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be moving closer to a normalization agreement.
US President Joe Biden’s administration is actively working with Riyadh and Jerusalem to negotiate a normalization agreement between the two countries. As part of the framework, Saudi Arabia is also demanding a comprehensive mutual defense pact and major arms deals from the US, as well as Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to use a red marker on a map of the “New Middle East” while speaking at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, September 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his address to the United Nations last Friday that Israel was “on the threshold” of a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman told Fox News that we are “getting closer every day” to normalizing his country’s relations with Israel, while making clear that the Palestinian issue is still a “very important” part of the process, and also stated that Saudi Arabia must acquire a nuclear weapon if Iran does so.
Earlier this month, a nine-member Israeli delegation flew to Saudi Arabia to observe the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting. According to an Israeli official, the delegation was led by the head of the Israel Antiquities Authority and also included diplomats.
Next week, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi will land in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening to attend the 2023 Universal Postal Union Extraordinary Congress in Riyadh, his office told the Times of Israel. Karhi will speak at the UN conference taking place from Sunday to Thursday next week.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi during a discussion and vote in the Knesset in Jerusalem on March 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Karhi is flying through another country in the region and already has his visa. He will bring a small delegation to the kingdom, which does not recognize Israel.
Karhi, a religious Jew, will not have a porch at his hotel next week during the Sukkot holiday on which to build a sukkah, but will bring a lulav and an etrog
According to Hebrew media reports, Knesset Economic Committee Chairman David Bitan will also visit Saudi Arabia next week.
Like Katz, both Karhi and Bitan are members of the ruling Likud party.
The delegation from Israel will take part in the expanded 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Riyadh on September 11, 2023. (Rania Sanjar/AFP)
Israel has reportedly backed off its attempts to get Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Education Minister Yoav Kisch to attend the conference after the Saudis introduced barriers to the visa process.
In March, Axios reported that Saudi Arabia had barred Cohen from leading a delegation to the UN World Tourism Organization conference. According to unnamed Israeli officials, Cohen was unable to travel after the Saudis refused to discuss security arrangements.
In July, a team of Israeli players was allowed into Saudi Arabia to take part in the video game version of the FIFA World Cup.