Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
First: Muslims to Fly From Israel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj
Error: Contact form not found.
by Dave Bender
Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Wikipedia
In a possible sign of improved relations between Israel and the Saudi Kingdom, some 766 Israeli Muslim Arabs will soon be able to make the sacred Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia by air from Israel – instead of by bus, Israel’s The Marker business news site said Sunday.
The 24-hour overland trek will be slashed to a 20-minute hop from Ben-Gurion Airport to Amman, Jordan, and then a change of planes on to Jeddah, according to local sources.
Formerly, pilgrims had to make the religious visit via the Allenby Crossing with the Hashemite Kingdom, including getting a temporary passport to travel on to Mecca, and then return.
“We have contacted the Israeli and Jordanian civil aviation authorities and obtained all the needed permission to organize flights for hajj pilgrims,” Ibrahim Milad, CEO of Ramla-based Milad Aviation told the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency.
The charter flights will use aircraft from Royal Jordanian Airlines and its subsidiary Royal Wings, according to i24 News.
“The contacts with the Jordanian and Israeli authorities lasted for about three years, in order to organize the trips for believers from Israel to Saudi Arabia for the first time,” Milad said. “During that period, I visited Jordan about 100 times to obtain all the necessary approvals.”
The first batch of pilgrims is set to fly between Sept. 23rd and 26th, and the flight will cost about $600, according to Palestinian sources.
