Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude towards Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for their hospitality and assistance after an Israeli passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the kingdom. The incident occurred late Monday when a plane traveling from Seychelles to Israel experienced technical difficulties, prompting its diversion to Jeddah.
Approximately 130 Israeli passengers were on board the aircraft when it landed in Jeddah. The passengers were accommodated overnight in a hotel located within the airport complex while the technical issues were addressed.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu praised the Saudi authorities for their warm treatment of the Israeli passengers during their unexpected stay in Jeddah. “I greatly appreciate the warm attitude of the Saudi authorities to the Israeli passengers whose flight was in distress and was compelled to make an emergency landing in Jeddah,” Netanyahu remarked.
Netanyahu also highlighted the sense of good neighborliness demonstrated by Saudi Arabia, underscoring the significance of the positive interaction between the two nations during this incident.
This incident follows the precedent set last year when Saudi Arabia permitted Israeli flights to traverse its airspace, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. While Saudi Arabia maintains its stance against normalization with Tel Aviv until the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the recent events reflect a notable level of cooperation in mitigating challenges faced by travelers.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia has consistently opposed the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and has refrained from establishing official diplomatic ties with Israel. As the situation unfolds, the incident sheds light on the complexities and nuances of regional interactions amidst ongoing geopolitical dynamics.
