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Israel Appoints Heifetz as Special Envoy for the Gulf

Zvi Heifetz (R) gives an exclusive interview to Xinhuanet in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 23, 2017. (Xinhuanet/He Xianfeng)
Zvi Heifetz (R) gives an exclusive interview to Xinhuanet in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 23, 2017. (Xinhuanet/He Xianfeng)
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Israel Appoints Heifetz as Special Envoy for the Gulf

Zvi Heifetz (R) gives an exclusive interview to Xinhuanet in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 23, 2017. (Xinhuanet/He Xianfeng)
Zvi Heifetz (R) gives an exclusive interview to Xinhuanet in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 23, 2017. (Xinhuanet/He Xianfeng)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi decided to appoint the diplomat and businessman, Zvi Heifetz, as a special envoy to the Gulf States.

Heifetz would be in charge with establishing two embassies in Abu Dhabi and Manama and a consulate in Dubai, and for advancing relations with other Gulf countries.

Heifetz, 64, is considered one of the most prominent Israeli diplomats working abroad. Born in Siberia, Russia, he is an international lawyer, a businessman, and a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He started his diplomatic career as Israeli ambassador to Britain (2004 - 2007), then assumed the post of ambassador to Austria and to several international organizations.

In 2015, Heifetz was appointed ambassador to Moscow. He is considered the architect of the strategic Israeli-Russian cooperation currently taking place in Syria. Since January 2017, he has been serving as Israel’s ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia.

Heifetz was selected as the special envoy to the Gulf states, “for being a high-ranking diplomat and a successful economist with great experience in careful management and leadership,” according to Ashkenazi.

His first mission in both the UAE and Bahrain will be to establish the Israeli embassies in Abu Dhabi and Manama and the consulate in Dubai, and then expand relations to other Gulf countries.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen had announced that he expected an imminent peace agreement to be signed with three Gulf countries.

In an interview with Yediot Aharonot, he said that the rapprochement between Qatar and the Gulf states would increase the opportunities for normalization with Israel.

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Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Tuesday a written message from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on bilateral relations between their two countries.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh.

Gulf

Princes and Officials Take Oath Before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Princes and Officials Take Oath Before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials are seen during the ceremony in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Princes and officials appointed by royal orders to their new positions took the oath of office before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh on Tuesday.

They included Deputy Governor of Al-Baha Region Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki; Member of the Shura Council Prince Dr. Saad bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz; Deputy Governor of Madinah Region Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud; Deputy Governor of Northern Borders Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz; and Minister of Investment Fahd Al-Saif.

They swore to be faithful to their religion, then their King and country, not to reveal any of the state’s secrets, to preserve its interests and regulations, and to perform their duties with honesty, trustworthiness, and sincerity.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Reiterates Its Categorical Rejection of Israel’s ‘State Land’ Decision in West Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Its Categorical Rejection of Israel’s ‘State Land’ Decision in West Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government condemned on Tuesday Israel’s decision to West Bank lands as "state lands."

Reiterating its absolute rejection of these illegal measures, the Cabinet warned that they undermine peace efforts and violate the Palestinian people's inherent right to establish an independent, sovereign state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

The Cabinet congratulated citizens and Muslims on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, expressing gratitude for the Kingdom's honor in caring for the two holy mosques and their visitors.

The Cabinet highlighted the success of the Hajj and Umrah seasons, noting that the Kingdom welcomed 19.5 million international pilgrims and Umrah performers in 2025, setting new records that reflect rapid progress toward the goals of Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The Cabinet described the Kingdom's Founding Day celebration on February 22 as an expression of pride in the Saudi state's nearly three-century history, underscoring the foundations of justice, unity, and development established by leaders and citizens throughout history to ensure the nation remains a global leader in all fields.

The Cabinet was briefed on recent talks between Saudi Arabia and various nations, which focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation and boosting coordination to foster regional and international security, stability, and prosperity.

The session further reviewed the Kingdom's economic, cultural, and social activities, stressing the state's commitment to social solidarity and giving. This includes continued support for the sixth National Campaign for Charitable Work, set to begin on Friday.

The Cabinet commended the success of the third World Defense Show held in Riyadh under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' patronage, during which strategic partnerships, agreements, and memoranda of understanding were signed to localize military technologies and strengthen local supply chains in alignment with Vision 2030 objectives.