'Palestinian issue' not obstacle to Israel-Saudi peace, says foreign minister

The “Palestinian issue” will “not be an obstacle” to peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said during a rare interview with the Arabic-language online newspaper Elaph.

Cohen said that Saudi Arabia joining the expanding list of Arab and Muslim countries that have made peace with Israel would “make history.” The minister was referring to a deal between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel that would see a normalization agreement between the Saudi Kingdom and the Jewish State.

“A visit to Israel by a Saudi foreign minister would be a day of celebration,” he said, noting “the current Israeli government will take steps to improve the Palestinian economy.”

Other topics discussed 

Cohen went on to discuss the issues of Hezbollah and Iran’s hostility, as well as the controversy surrounding the Israeli government’s planned judicial reforms.

“[Hassan] Nasrallah is weak, and the tent issue is his provocation,” he said of the Hezbollah leader. “Nasrallah is hiding in a bunker like a mouse. Israel can return Lebanon to the Stone Age.

“Iran is the main financier of terrorism in the region and in the world, it is like a cancer – it destroys every country it enters,” Cohen added.

On judicial reforms, the minister said that opponents are “exaggerating concerns.”