Daily Briefing July 17: Did Biden’s trip strengthen Israeli-Saudi ties? The jury is out

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, Sunday through Thursday.
Editor David Horovitz and US correspondent Jacob Magid join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today’s episode.
Magid, part of the pool of journalists covering US President Joe Biden’s trip to the Holy Land and Saudi Arabia, shares what it’s like to be a Jewish journalist in Jeddah, where casual anti-Semitism is a mode of life.
We hear dissonant accounts of what might appear to some to be a warming of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia – but the idea is flatly debunked by the Saudis.
Magid also reported on a chilly start to Biden’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. What caused the cold?
Horovitz speaks on the Israeli part of Biden’s visit. Was it successful? And what is very different in the message of this American president vis-à-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Items discussed include:
Unlike Biden, Saudis deny opening airspace is a step towards ties with Israel
Saudi Minister: Peace with Israel is a “strategic option”, but not before the two-state solution
Biden hails Saudi ‘historic’ decision to allow Israeli flights over its airspace
After Biden brings up Khashoggi killing, MBS hits back with question about Abu Akleh killing
AP upset after visiting Biden dismisses ‘short-term’ two-state likelihood
Accepting medal, emotional Biden says Israel’s success is ‘almost miraculous to me’
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