Mossad: Saudi Arabia has actual peace relations with Israel, albeit unofficial

QUDS, Oct. 19 (YPA) – Director of the Israeli Mossad, Yossi Cohen, has said that the path of normalization and the launch of relations with the Arab countries gives Israel a “strategic depth” to confront its enemies.

Cohen indicated that Saudi Arabia has actual peace relations with Israel, even if it is outside the official diplomatic framework.

Israeli “Maariv” newspaper quoted Cohen as saying that the path of normalization and bilateral relations with the countries of the region helps Israel confront what he called the “axis of evil run by Iran” and confront the dangers it poses, especially the nuclear program, terrorism, and regional expansion.

The normalization and bilateral relations with Arab countries opens new horizons for Israel on the economic and security levels, in addition to launching cooperation activities in all fields, he added.

On Saudi Arabia’s position, which conditions resolving the Palestinian issue for normalization, Cohen said: “I had hoped that the countries that have actual peace relations with us, even if they are outside the official diplomatic framework, would do that (normalization).”

The UAE and Bahrain reached agreements to normalize relations with Israel, which were signed on September 15 in Washington.

The two agreements were met with widespread Palestinian condemnation, as the Palestinian factions and leadership considered them a “betrayal” and a stab in the back of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian leadership rejects any normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab countries, before ending the Israeli occupation of the occupied territories in 1967.

YPA