Saudi policy shift in the region worrying 'Israel': Israeli media
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Israeli media say there is a Saudi indication of a change in policy regarding Saudi Arabia's relationship with the Hamas movement.
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Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Damascus, on April 18, 2023 (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the change in Saudi policy in the region has caused a state of anxiety in "Israel".
The Israeli KAN channel said there is a Saudi indication of a change in policy regarding the Kingdom's relationship with the Hamas movement.
"When we connect all the dots regarding reconciliation with Iran and rapprochement with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Sanaa, this, from Israel's point of view, is definitely a cause for concern," the channel pointed out.
The channel described the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Damascus as historic, highlighting that it was the first visit since the outbreak of the war on Syria 12 years ago.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen correspondent in Damascus reported that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the presidential palace.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Assad and bin Farhan discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that ends all its repercussions, achieves national reconciliation, and contributes to Syria's return to its Arab surroundings, in addition to resuming its natural role in the Arab world.
The Saudi Foreign Minister's visit to Damascus comes days after his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad visited Saudi Arabia for the first time in more than 12 years and held talks with Saudi officials on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
It also comes a month after Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a Chinese-brokered agreement on restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies in the two countries.
In addition, Riyadh is currently engaged in negotiations with Sanaa on ending the war on Yemen -- which have been described by both sides as "positive" -- and recently completed a simultaneous exchange of prisoners.
In early April, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the Israeli occupation considers the restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia deeply concerning and a major blow to the plans of the entity and the United States.
The newspaper said that "Tel Aviv and Washington in the past years hoped to exploit the rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran in order to establish an Israeli-Arab axis against Iran's efforts to create a nuclear weapon" and considered that "the announcement of the agreement, which was achieved with the mediation of China, dealt a severe blow to these hopes."
Last week, CNN reported that CIA director William Burns made an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia to express his frustration that peace was breaking out in the Middle East against Washington's wishes.
The Wall Street Journal cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that Burns expressed frustration with the Saudis and told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the US has felt blindsided by Riyadh’s rapprochement with Iran and Syria under the auspices of Washington’s global rivals.
Read more: 'Israel's' dreams crushed as Saudi-Iran deal exhibits regional loss
