Saudi Arabia Aids Israeli Passengers, Denies Military Aircraft Landing

Saudi Arabia provided assistance to Israeli passengers aboard a FlyDubai flight that made an emergency landing in the kingdom, offering medical aid and food. However, Riyadh rejected Israel's request to send Israeli Air Force Hercules aircraft to evacuate the passengers, according to Ynet. Israeli officials believe this incident, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, should not negatively impact relations between the two countries.

The FlyDubai flight, carrying approximately 180 Israelis, landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities facilitated the passengers' stay and onward travel arrangements. While the passengers were treated well by local services, the request for Israeli military planes was firmly denied. Israel's assessment was that the presence of military aircraft with Israeli markings could signal an overt rapprochement, which Saudi Arabia appears keen to avoid.

Behind the scenes, Israel's Mossad was reportedly close to securing permission for a unmarked white aircraft to land in Tabuk for the evacuation. Ultimately, this became unnecessary as the passengers agreed to continue their journey on a replacement FlyDubai flight. An Israeli official explained Riyadh's stance as a reluctance to publicly display ties with Israel, suggesting that while security cooperation exists, Saudi Arabia prefers to keep it discreet, partly due to domestic considerations.

Despite the refusal of the military aircraft landing, Israel views Saudi Arabia's actions during the incident as a significant signal. The kingdom's willingness to allow the plane to land and accommodate the Israeli passengers is seen as a positive development. Furthermore, Ynet reported that Saudi Arabia had recently sought Israeli intelligence assistance via the U.S. Central Command to counter Houthi threats, which Israel reportedly provided, indicating ongoing security collaboration despite political differences.

Overall, the events surrounding the FlyDubai flight highlight the boundaries of the evolving relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is prepared to cooperate on security matters but is currently avoiding actions that could be perceived as public normalization of relations. This relationship is described as developing primarily behind closed doors.