Is There Any Regional Reconciliation Behind Israeli-Saudi Secret Meeting?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew in a private jet to the Saudi city of Neum to hold a secret meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - sparking an uproar.

The question also arises as to whether such a meeting actually took place at all.

Saudi Arabia has already denied the news.

"No such meeting has taken place," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said in a tweet.

Mr. Netanyahu declined to comment on the news, but said he was working to "expand the circle of peace."

'Normalization of relations and Iran issue discussed'

But in an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Israeli Education Minister Joao Gallant apparently confirmed the meeting, saying it was a "great achievement" for Mr Netanyahu and Prince Mohammed.

But not only the Israeli media, but also some other sources are already giving the news.

In particular, the Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed "Saudi adviser" in their report, hinted at what was discussed at the Netanyahu-Prince Mohammed meeting.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a senior Saudi adviser has confirmed the meeting between Netanyahu and Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS).

The secret talks focused on normalizing relations between the two countries and the Iran issue - but no agreement was reached, the Saudi adviser said.

The meeting was also attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

A very secret meeting

The meeting was held in such secrecy that Israel's alternate prime minister and defense minister, Benny Gantz, and foreign minister, Gabby Ashkenazi, were not informed.

Mr. from Israel. The jet, carrying Netanyahu and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, took off from Tel Aviv at 7.30pm on Sunday.

The plane landed for about two hours after landing at the airport in the Saudi Red Sea city of Neom.

Then at midnight the plane returned to Israel again.

The T-7 CPX is owned by Israeli businessman Udi Angel. Israeli media say Netanyahu has flown in more than once to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

From the flight-tracking data, an Israeli journalist noticed that a plane used by Netanyahu had flown directly from Israel to the Saudi city of Naom. The news first spread through him.

A Middle East intelligence source told the Washington Post that very few people knew about the meeting.

Does everyone want to keep the matter a secret?

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud has denied that any such meeting took place, saying only American and Saudi officials were present during Mike Pompeo's visit.

He said in a recent interview that Saudi Arabia supports normalizing relations with Israel, but that there must be a lasting and full-fledged peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo himself tweeted about his meeting with the Saudi prince on the same day, but made no mention of the MBS meeting with the Israeli leader.

The BBC's Liz Dussett also reports that senior Saudi officials have publicly and publicly denied the "extremely sensitive" news.

Saudi Arabia and Israel have historically been enemies. However, sources in the Middle East say that secret contacts between Saudi Arabia and Israel have been reported at various times, but this is the first time that such high-level leaders have met.

So why this meeting? One reason, of course, is the political and strategic realities of the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia and its allies have seen Iran as a major threat since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Just as there is a Shia-Sunni conflict behind it, various royal-ruled Arab countries see Iran and its supporting groups as a threat to them. As a result, one of the strategic goals of Saudi Arabia and its allies is to prevent Iran's influence in the region from growing.

Israel also sees Iran as a major threat because of its tough anti-Israel policies and especially its nuclear program.

As a result, Iran is now the common adversary of Saudi Arabia, its allies, and Israel.

Ever since the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized relations with Israel, it has been speculated that this may be followed by Saudi Arabia.

Saul Yanai, a Middle East expert at the Hebrew University, says Netanyahu is an experienced diplomat and that Israel may have leaked the news of the meeting after receiving the green signal, and they want everyone to know.

Message for Joe Biden?

The Washington Post quoted a Middle East intelligence official as saying the meeting sent a message to the Biden administration that the field was now ready to improve relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

In an article in the Washington Post, analyst Henry Olsen says that while everyone denies the news of Netanyahu and Prince Mohammed's meeting, it is in line with the recent winds of old hostile relations in the Middle East.

He also called it a "de facto anti-Iranian alliance of Israel and the Gulf monarchies" - which could have a significant impact on what US Middle East policy will be after Joe Biden becomes president.

According to him, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies were disturbed by the nuclear deal reached between the two countries under President Barack Obama.

Donald Trump pulled the United States out of that deal, but now that Joe Biden is president, US policy could change again.

Analyst Henry Olsen says it is in this context that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies can seek an ally capable of dealing with the Iranian threat. Israel is believed to have nuclear weapons, and Netanyahu's government is openly anti-Iranian.

It is noteworthy that in all these calculations, how or when the Palestinian issue is resolved.