Palestinians radio silent on Netanyahu’s visit to Saudi Arabia
The Palestinian Authority keeps mum on the alleged visit of Benjamin Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia, as it does not wish to get on the wrong side of Riyadh.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian Authority (PA) remains silent on what has been leaked about the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the presence of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The PA and Fatah officials refuse to comment on the matter. Al-Monitor tried to contact several Fatah leaders, but they declined to speak on the record.
Al-Monitor, however, learned from sources in the Fatah movement that President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed officials not to address the normalization ties between Arab countries and Israel in the media.
“There is a decision not to talk about this in the media because the PA does not want in any way to send the wrong message to Saudi Arabia or lose its support. Riyadh is of major importance to us. But there is some news that it is best for us, as Palestinians, not to comment on,” a source in Fatah told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
