The Zioneer Intelligence Desk assesses that while Saudi Arabia went to great lengths to receive and assist Israeli passengers from the diverted Flydubai flight, it did not fully cooperate with Israel. The assessment follows reports that Riyadh refused Israeli requests for rescue flights into the kingdom.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk assesses that Saudi Arabia's cooperation with Israel during the Flydubai incident was incomplete. The assessment is based on a report by The Jerusalem Post on Thursday stating that while Riyadh went to great lengths to receive and assist the Israeli passengers after the emergency landing in Tabuk, it did not fully coordinate with Israeli authorities.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday at 10:58 a.m. Jerusalem time, a Saudi source confirmed to AFP that Riyadh had rejected repeated Israeli requests to send Israeli aircraft into the kingdom to evacuate the stranded passengers. The i24NEWS had earlier reported on Wednesday evening that Israeli political and security officials had been certain Saudi Arabia would approve a civilian rescue flight, but the Saudis refused.
The incident involved a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Tabuk after an alleged hijacking attempt by the Omani co-pilot. The investigation by Mossad and Shin Bet is ongoing, and as The Zioneer reported, Flydubai's operations to Israel have been suspended for six days.
The refusal of rescue flights and the subsequent characterization of cooperation as incomplete highlight remaining limits in Saudi-Israeli relations. A source close to the Saudi royal family was quoted by i24NEWS as saying, 'Israel needs to understand that you cannot force normalization.'
3 developments
- DevelopingThe Zioneer publishes analysis: How normalization with Saudi Arabia was missed
- DevelopingSaudi, Jordanian fighter jets scrambled alongside IAF during Flydubai emergency, Israeli media reports
- Strong8-year-old on Flydubai flight says she thought plane would crash during rapid descent
- ConfirmedSaudi Arabia opens aviation safety investigation after Flydubai hijacking attempt
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