Saudi allows Air India overflights to Israel: Netanyahu

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Saudi Arabia had granted permission to an Indian airline to fly through Saudi airspace en route to Israel.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, Netanyahu said Air India flights will fly over Saudi territory on its routes to and from Tel Aviv.

There was no confirmation from either Riyadh or Air India.

In January, Israeli daily Haaretz said that Saudi authorities had allowed the Indian flag carrier to hold direct flights to Israel through Saudi airspace for the first time.

Saudi authorities, however, swiftly denied the claim.

For 70 years, Saudi airspace has remained closed to Israeli aircraft and to all flights bound for the self-proclaimed Jewish state.