Israel seeking direct Saudi flights for Hajj: Minister

‘Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara says Tel Aviv is seeking direct flights to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage as the two sides move closer to forge a model of relations.
In an interview with Bloomberg earlier this week, Kara expressed hope that Israeli Muslims would be able to fly directly from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to Saudi Arabia, instead of enduring the 1,000-mile bus route across the Jordan River and through the Saudi desert to reach the holy city of Mecca.
“Reality has changed,” Kara said. “This is a good time to make the request, and I’m working hard on it.”
Kara also said that he had spoken to government officials in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries about the Hajj plan, adding that they were “ready to do it, but it’s very sensitive and it’s still a matter of negotiation.”’
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