Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi and Likud lawmaker David Bitan, the head of the Knesset’s finance committee, landed in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday to participate in the 2023 congress of the Universal Postal Union, as the US push to normalize relations between the two countries gains momentum.
Karhi is now the second Israeli minister to publicly travel to the kingdom after last week's visit by Tourism Minister Haim Katz, and the third by an official Israeli delegation in the last three months.
The fourth Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union is being held in Riyadh between Sunday and Thursday. Because of the Sukkoth Jewish holiday, Karhi arrived in Riyadh Monday evening and will only be staying there for three days.
Shortly after landing in Riyadh, his office told Al-Monitor that the minister was "received warmly" by the Saudi hosts. The office also said the visas for the Israeli delegation were accorded a few weeks ago, with the Saudis being helpful in the planning of the visit.
