Gantz slams Netanyahu over leak of alleged secret meeting with Saudi crown prince
Saudi and Israeli sources have confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leaked news that Defense Minister Benny Gantz called irresponsible.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused today to address reports that he traveled last night to Saudi Arabia.
The alleged visit was first reported early this morning, after a tweet by Haaretz editor Avi Scharf about a mysterious private jet flying from Tel Aviv to the Saudi city of Neom. "ABSOLUTELY rare Israeli flight direct to new Saudi mega-city Neom on Red Sea shore It was Bibi's ex-fav bizjet t7-cpx. Back to Tel Aviv after 5 hours on ground," read the tweet, which also featured the flight's route.
After the tweet, anonymous Israeli officials confirmed that Netanyahu had visited Saudi Arabia. They said he was accompanied by Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, that Netanyahu met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, currently visiting the county, was also present at the meeting, which lasted between two and four hours. The sources further claimed that bin Salman had no objection to the meeting being disclosed. Later in the day Saudi officials confirmed the meeting to the Wall Street Journal.
In between, Education Minister Yoav Gallant also confirmed the visit. Speaking to Army Radio, Galant said, “I congratulate the prime minister on this amazing achievement. The fact that the meeting took place and was made public — even if it was in only a semiofficial way — is something of great importance.”
