Saudi-Israel meetings dismissed as 'false propaganda'

A Saudi Arabian political science professor has dismissed reports about secret meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials as “false propaganda”. Khaled Al-Dakhil told Quds Press that the source of such reports is the pro-Iran media. The objective is to distract public opinion away from the ongoing Iranian-Western understanding on Tehran’s nuclear programme, which includes obligations towards Israel’s security, he claimed.

“The story about secret meetings between the Saudis and Israelis dates back to the era of Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser,” said Prof Al-Dakhil, “and it is mere propaganda.” He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s position on this issue is quite clear and overt; it does not need secret meetings of this kind. “The talk about secret meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials originated in a news story that appeared in the pro-Iran media, and it is part of the war against the kingdom.”

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s position is evident in the Arab initiative, which is based on reaching a peaceful and comprehensive resolution to the Arab-Israel conflict by establishing a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, within the pre-1967 borders. “Saudi Arabia does not need secret meetings; it has Arab and international allies, so it does not need Israel,” he added.