Israeli minister grants unprecedented interview to Saudi

news site - Arab-Israeli Conflict

An Israeli government minister granted an unprecedented interview to a Saudi news site on
Friday.
In a sign of warming, albeit unofficial, ties between the Jewish state and the House of Saud, Zeev
Elkin, the minister of immigrant absorption, told the Elaph Arab-language web site on Friday that
Israel continues to maintain the status quo at the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.
Israel and Saudi Arabias shared enmity for Iran has created an opening for dialogue, although any
communication between government officials is likely to remain secret as Riyadh does not formally
recognize the Zionist entity.
Jerusalem is relatively calm in both [the east and the west], said Elkin, whose ministerial portfolio
also includes responsibility for Jerusalem-related affairs. The wave of incitement this past year
generated a wave of terrorism that is almost over in Jerusalem and has spread to Judea and Samaria.
Anyone who visits Jerusalem doesnt see anything abnormal, the minister told Elaph. Accusations
against Israel of violating the status quo on Temple Mount are false, because the directives from the
prime minister are to prevent Jews from praying in Aksa mosque, and this is because its against the
law.
In the interview, Elkin reiterated his longstanding opposition to partitioning Jerusalem and handing
the Palestinians control of the eastern portion as part of a final-status peace agreement, though he
added: I dont believe there will be negotiations anytime soon in light of the Palestinian incitement
against Israelis.
Elkin said that he supported allocating resources to improve the infrastructure in predominantly
Arab east Jerusalem.
Weve added budgets for over 100 more classrooms as well as funds for neighborhoods in east
Jerusalem, Elkin said.
When asked if these funds will lead to Arab acceptance of the Israeli occupation, the minister
replied: In recent Palestinian polls, weve seen that most residents of east Jerusalem have no interest
in living under Palestinian rule. Indeed, most residents of the Arab neighborhoods have moved to the
Israeli side of the fence.
There is cooperation between the Israelis and the Arab Jerusalemites, but whoever watches
Palestinian television will come to the conclusion that they are living in another country, the minister
said.
Elkin also raised geopolitical issues, like the regional rivalry with Iran.
Iran is trying to take over the Middle East after the nuclear agreement by means of its emissaries Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and by deepening the Sunni-Shiite chasm, he said. Theres
also the Islamic extremism of ISIS, which shows that Israel is not a subject of disagreement in the
Middle East.

Whoever says Israel is the main problem in the region is no longer convincing anybody, Elkin said.
The minister said that the political realities in the Middle East present opportunities for cooperation
among countries with shared interests, including Israel and Arab governments.
We welcome any cooperation based on joint interests and the recognition of Israels right to exist as
the national homeland of the Jewish people in the Holy Land, the minister said. Its still premature to
speak of talks or conversations with Arab countries. Whether they want to have open or secret
relations with us is their business. We are seeing that these alliances are taking us in new directions
that werent there in the past.