Saudi prohibits visa requests for members of Israeli delegation

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Saudi Arabia has prohibited visa requests for members of an Israeli delegation who were asked to take part in the UN World Tourism Organization meeting in Al-Ula.

Israeli immigrants from Kafr Kanna in Galilee were slated to connect with representatives from 22 other countries at the meeting. However, they didn’t get suitable visas in spite of a plea from the UN for equal dealing between affiliate states and billions expended by Saudi Arabia to grow a major tourism industry.
Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Israeli city of Kafr Kanna are amongst the 32 destinations designated by the UN in its list of top rural tourism places of 2023.

Israeli Mayor Zakaria Napso said that there were a lot of anticipations before the event, and it is annoying that they were prohibited from participating in the same.

Israel’s ministry of tourism criticized the refusal of the visa requests. They said that Israel urges the UNWTO along with other UN bodies to specify the UN’s rules, including equivalent conduct in confirming the involvement of states in the events of the organization.

In this case, the organization was unsuccessful to realize these values, which is unfortunate. The visa issue came in front after Saudi Arabia declared that it has reestablished connections with Iran after years of distancing.

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