'Advanced contacts' ongoing for Israel-Saudi Hajj flights

"Advanced contacts" are continuing between Israel and Saudi Arabia to allow direct flights for those wishing to participate in the Islamic pilgrimage, Israeli media reported Sunday evening.

Israel’s Channel 12 said discussions are revolving around launching direct flights soon between Tel Aviv and Saudi airports to transport its Muslim citizens wishing to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Quoting two Israeli officials, the television station signalled Saudi positivity over the discussions, claiming contacts were taking place with "Saudi support and encouragement".

It added that Israel has already approached airlines in Jordan and Bahrain - two countries Israel shares ties with - to operate potential direct flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Saudi Arabia.

While Riyadh has yet to agree, Channel 12 claimed the Saudis were likely to get on board.

Last year, then Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that he had secured Saudi consent for what would be the first direct Hajj flights from Israel, where some 18 percent of the population are Muslim.

The Saudis have allegedly conditioned that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are also allowed to fly from Tel Aviv to Jeddah - the city with the closest airport to the holy site of Mecca where Muslims perform Hajj - claimed Channel 12.

Israel's approval of such a request will depend on what its Shin Ben internal security service says.

Unlike Palestinians and other Muslims in 1948 lands, residents of the occupied West Bank do not have Israeli citizenship and cannot move freely within Israel.

Channel 12 reported that Saudi Arabia will only allow Muslims to use any direct flights from Israel to perform Hajj. An expected 4,500 Palestinians from 1948 lands will be able to take advantage of the service next month, according to Channel 12, if Israel’s request is given the green light by Riyadh.

Hajj this year is expected to take place between late June and early July.

Muslims from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories currently travel to Mecca through third-party countries, which can mean additional expenses and travel time.

Saudi Arabia has been allowing Israeli airlines to overfly it to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain since 2020, a corridor that it and neighbour Oman have since expanded to include other destinations.

Israeli media has even predicted that allowing direct flights to Saudi Arabia could be the first step to full normalisation between the two countries, and a "breakthrough in relations" between the two sides.

Saudi Arabia has so far opposed such a move and recent reports suggest opposition in Riyadh to normalisation with Israel.

Despite this, Saudi Arabia reportedly signalled approval for Israel's US-sponsored forging of ties with Gulf neighbours UAE and Bahrain in 2020, but has said Palestinian statehood would have to be addressed before it follows through with any normalisation.

Israel also established ties with Sudan and Morocco in 2020, in controversial agreements dubbed the Abraham Accords.

Palestinians strongly opposed the normalisation agreements, saying it handed Israel recognition without having to make any concessions in return.