Leading Israeli daily Haaretz is reporting that Saudi Arabia has made it clear it would suppory an Israeli attack on Iran — and even permit Israeli fighter jets to use Saudi airspace.
The back-channel development reflects growing concern in the Persian Gulf over what many perceive as Iran’s on-going nuclear weapons program and its threat to regional Arab nations.
The reports suggest that Meir Dagan — chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency — held talks with Saudi officials who will not stand in the way of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites.
Such a mission, insiders says, would be in the “common interest” of both nations.
Perhaps, most crucially, it has been revealed that John Bolton — the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations — is saying that it would be “entirely logical” for Israeli warplanes to fly over Saudi Arabia en route to bombing nuclear targets in Iran.
While the news mostly reflects region-wide concern over Iran, perhaps the indirect Saudi-Israeli talks could lead to cooperation on additional Middle Eastern issues — ranging from the Hamas and Hizbullah, to solving the never-ending Palestinian problem.
We certainly hope so.