Ben-Gurion International Airport. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have agreed in secret negotiations to coordinate the first flight of Palestinian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday.

The new route, which would enable Palestinian pilgrims to travel directly to the holiest Islamic sites in Mecca and Medina during Ramadan, was pushed by US President Donald Trump after his visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel in May, according to reports.

The flight would have a brief layover in Jordan before arriving in Riyadh. It would be the first-ever connecting flight between the countries, following Trump’s direct flight in May from Riyadh to Tel Aviv aboard Air Force One.

A senior Israeli source said negotiations to open the route were in advanced stages, and the flights would be run by a foreign company, not an Israeli or Saudi airline.