Whistle-Blower Reveals New Dimensions of Saudi-Israeli Ties

“Riyadh has had contacts with Tel Aviv; first, generally by the Saudi government. Second, by Salman bin Abdolaziz, the current King, when he was the Emir of Riyadh and then became the king of the country,” Mujtahid wrote on his twitter page on Monday.

He added that incumbent Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was also one of the channels for contacts between Riyadh and Tel Aviv since he was the advisor of the Saudi embassy in Washington for the Congress affairs when Bandar bin Sultan was the Saudi ambassador to the US, saying that Jubeir had good relations with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Late in June, Mujtahid had revealed that new Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is attempting to pave the ground for overt relations with Israel.

“In line with preparing the public opinion to establish open ties with Israel, bin Salman has launched a media and twitter campaign and gifts any twitter activist or reporter who helps him in this regard,” Mujtahid wrote on his twitter page.

Also last month, a leading Arab daily disclosed secret meetings between bin Salman and Israeli officials in the past two years.

Al-Qods al-Arabi newspaper reported that the Israeli media have all voiced pleasure in Mohammed bin Salman’s appointment as the crown prince, adding that this development has long been wished by the Israelis.

The Arab daily quoted the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot as reporting that the intelligence sources have confirmed that bin Salman has held meetings with the Israeli officials under a secret name, Walad, in the past two years.

The Israeli daily didn’t reveal the venues and time for the meetings, but wrote that Israel and Saudi Arabia have common foes, friends and interests.