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President Joe Biden welcomes Saudi Arabia to open airspace to all airlines, including flights to and from Israel, puts an end to the ban on flights to and from Israel, and takes a step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. I did.
Biden will visit Saudi Arabia on Friday to meet King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A statement On July 14, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan welcomed Biden’s historic decision to open Saudi airspace to all commercial airlines without discrimination by Saudi leaders. I admire you. ” Diplomacy with Saudi Arabia for months. “
“This decision paves the way for the security and prosperity of the United States and its people, and the more integrated, stable and secure Middle East region that is essential to the security and prosperity of Israel.”
The president is expected to speak further about the move later on Friday after embarking on a “direct historic flight from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia announced late Thursday that it would open the airspace to “all aircraft carriers” before Biden visited the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) statement The country’s airspace is now open to all airlines that “meet the requirements for flying over”. 1944 Chicago ConventionThis stipulates that there should be no discrimination between commercial aircraft used in international air navigation.
Short flight time
The decision “complements efforts aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub connecting the three continents and strengthening international air connections,” GACA added in a statement.
It also culminates in shorter flights from Asia to Israel. The airlines that offer these flights previously had to take longer routes, such as detouring around Saudi Arabia on their way to Israel. three hours At the time of the trip.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations, and despite the independence of their allies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Kindam does not recognize Israel as independent. 2020 As part of a broader diplomatic promotion by the then Donald Trump administration to formalize relations between the two countries.
The key issues are the resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the creation or rather lack of a two-state solution.
The GACA statement on Thursday did not lead to mentioning Israel by name.
But in Saudi Arabia, Israel Limited From being used for other commercial flights.
Air India flights too approved Flying over the kingdom on a round-trip trip to Israel.
Both Saudi Arabia and Israel are increasingly engaged in security cooperation against what is considered a mutual threat in Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Yale Rapid praised the move. statement, He said he came after “a long and intense and secret diplomatic journey between Saudi Arabia and the United States.”
“This is just the first step,” Rapid said, and his government said. [the] We need the necessary attention for the benefit of Israel’s economy, security and citizens. “
When visiting the Kingdom on Friday, Biden is widely expected to help elicit support for OPEC in Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies. Increase oil production Because US gas prices continue to rise.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She focuses primarily on the United States and covers the news and business of The Epoch Times.
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