Kushner: Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to open airspace to Israel

White House adviser says tides are changing in region ahead of signing ceremony for Abraham Accord in Washington

White House adviser Jared Kushner takes part in a press briefing at the White House in Washington, US, September 4, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis
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Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain would allow Israeli flights to pass over their territory.

Mr Kushner said he had been told of the decisions by the two countries to open their airspace to all traffic to and from the UAE during his trip to the region last week, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

"[Saudi Arabia] agreed to open their airspace ... to all eastward travel," he said.

"Bahrain, the next day, we were there, they did the same thing where they opened up their airspace."

But Mr Kushner claimed that any Israeli flights would have to ask for a permit from Saudi authorities beforehand.

FILE- In this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 file photo, an overhead screen displays a map showing the flight route of an El Al plane from Israel en route to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Saudi Press Agency announced Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, that it will allow flights “from all countries” to cross its skies to reach the United Arab Emirates. The announcement comes just days after Saudi Arabia allowed the first direct Israeli commercial passenger flight to use its airspace to reach the UAE, signaling acquiescence for a breakthrough U.S.-brokered deal by the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations with Israel. (Nir Elias/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Mr Kushner said the new arrangements would make travelling around the region and beyond easier. AP

Spokespeople for the Saudi and Bahraini embassies in Washington were not immediately available for comment.

Mr Kushner spoke of changes in the region, less than a week away from the signing ceremony Abraham Accord between the UAE, Israel and the US, due to be held at the White House.

“Countries are starting to let go of old conflicts and move in the direction of peace,” he said.

He said the administration of President Donald Trump would be ready to sit down with the Palestinians when they were willing to come to the table, but it was not pressuring them to do so.

“We have chosen not to chase them but the moment that they're ready to engage, we believe that we have the ability to make a peace deal between them and Israel,” Mr Kushner said.

The Palestinian Authority cut diplomatic ties with the US after President Trump moved his country’s embassy to Jerusalem in 2018.

Mr Kushner said the White House ceremony on Tuesday between the UAE and Israel would be a landmark moment for US policy.

"This is something that should be bipartisan," he said. "We will invite Democrats or Republicans to be here.”

US President Donald Trump speaks on judicial appointments in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 9, 2020. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN
US President Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. AFP

Leaders of both parties have praised the agreement and will be invited to the ceremony, Mr Kushner said.

But as far as the Israeli and Emirati delegations are concerned, that would be up to each of the individual countries to decide.

Mr Trump was nominated on Wednesday for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of the Norwegian Parliament, for his efforts in brokering the peace agreement.

Mr Kushner, who is also Mr Trump’s son-in-law, said that the US President felt “very, very, very honoured to be nominated this morning for the Nobel Peace Prize”.

The signing ceremony will be held on Tuesday at the White House.

Mr Trump will be joined by the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.