Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Israeli-Saudi covert normalization comes to light

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israel Hayom
  • 29 May 2022 14:35
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Following years of secret visits, business deals, and 'security' agreements seeking to destabilize the axis of resistance in the region, "Israel" finally publicizes its normalized ties with Riyadh and other Arab nations.

  • x
  • “Israel” has continuously been interested in advancing its relations with Saudi Arabia
    “Israel” has continuously been interested in advancing its relations with Saudi Arabia

In an article by Israel Hayom, it has been revealed that Israeli envoys visited Riyadh several times throughout a period of time that extends for over a decade now. However, these visits have always been kept secret, but according to the Israeli newspaper, they can now be revealed.

No longer a secret

There has been one exception to the secret visits and that is Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit in November of 2020 to the Red Sea city of Neom, which was widely yet carefully publicized, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS).

Previously, Israeli security minister Benny Gantz had visited Saudi Arabia as chief of staff, while Aluf Meir Dagan, Tamir Pardo, and Yossi Cohen arrived as heads of Mossad and Ben Shabbat as head of the National Security Council. The purpose of the visit was to develop security coordination, especially against Iran. Netanyahu, as did most Israeli officials, had flown to SA in a private plane especially leased for this occasion. At the time, it was business contacts that have matured into political, military, and security deals.

The Neom meeting was coordinated by the former head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen, whose two predecessors had also visited Saudi Arabia in previous years. Meetings were not uniquely held by higher levels of institutions, but also by lower levels such as the “world” division which handles international relations with countries which “Israel” has diplomatic relations with, as well as those with secret relations similar to Saudi Arabia.

Related News

Syria, now buffer zone, places 'Israel' on Iraqi border: IOF colonel

'Israel' rejects Golan discussions in normalization talks with Syria

Read more: Hiding behind one's Mecca: Israeli-Saudi covert normalization

 

Gantz, previously chief of staff for the IOF and currently the Security Minister and Deputy PM of “Israel” since 2020, had visited Saudi Arabia on multiple occasions. The main goal of these meetings is to strengthen security coordination against Iran and Ansar Allah in Yemen.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia was not the only country in the region that maintained relations with “Israel” in secret. Various publications revealed that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also had secret relations with “Israel” prior to the public normalization of ties.

The elimination and the turnaround

Israel Hayom stated that SA was seeking to take advantage of Israeli technological advancements. Various publications showed that Cohen, as head of Mossad, opened the door for NSO to sell its spyware, Pegasus, to the Saudis. Saudi Arabia then obtained cyber capabilities from additional Israeli firms, some directly and others through subcontracts with several foreign firms.

Subsequently, based on the Israeli newspaper, Saudi Arabia’s use of the NSO had made news headlines following the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey in 2018. Despite NSO’s continuous denial of the information, a series of publications show that the follow-up of the journalist was conducted through the usage of NSO technologies.

“Israel” has been similarly accused of encouraging the sale of advanced spyware technologies to repressive and undemocratic regimes that have used them to track down political opponents, human rights activists, and journalists. 

Efforts to tighten the hinge

Next month, US President Joe Biden will visit Riyadh succeeding his visit to "Israel". MbS, a key figure in Saudi relations with “Israel”, viewed the occupation regime as a stabilizing factor in the region. Bin Salman had been "the best man" for developing relations between the two regimes, said Hayom.

“Israel” has continuously been interested in advancing its relations with Saudi Arabia. The major reason for this is the security coordination policy against Iran, aiming to target and weaken the axis of resistance which has given the Palestinians, over the years, more power.

  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Occupied Palestine
  • US
  • Palestine
  • Normalizing ties with Israel
  • Normalization with Israel
  • Normalization agreements
  • UAE normalizing ties

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS