RIYADH – Saudi Arabia hits back hard against the Israeli media reports ofJewish citizens visit to the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Israelis were not welcome to visit thekingdom after Israel decreed that Israeli citizens could visit Saudi Arabiaunder certain circumstances, CNN reported on Monday.
“Our policy is fixed. We do not have relations with the state of Israel andIsraeli passport holders cannot visit the kingdom at the current time,” theUS broadcaster quoted Prince Faisal bin Farhan as saying.
A statement from Israel’s interior minister on Sunday said Israelis – ifinvited and permitted by Saudi authorities – would be allowed to travelthere for religious reasons on pilgrimage or for up to nine days forbusiness reasons such as investment or meetings.
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Israelis, mostly Muslims going on pilgrimage, have for years been visitingthe kingdom, which hosts the two holiest sites in Islam, but usually withspecial permission or using foreign passports.
