Saudi ambassador to Washington wishes ‘Shana Tova’ to US Jews

It is the first time ever that the Saudi Embassy in Washington publicly wished U.S. Jewry holiday greetings for the Jewish New Year.

By World Israel News Staff 

In what is seen as an unprecedented gesture, the Saudi Embassy in Washington has publicly greeted the U.S. Jewish community on the occasion of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, according to a report by NBC News on Tuesday.

A greeting card, a copy of which was displayed on Twitter by NBC correspondent Josh Lederman, is decorated with pictures of honey, apples, and pomegranates.

It also contains a message which says: “On this occasion of Rosh Hashana, Her Highness The Ambassador Reema Bandar Al Saud sends her wishes for a happy and sweet new year.” It concludes with the Hebrew greeting of “Shana Tova” (‘A Good Year’).

“This is a first,” tweeted Lederman. The current ambassador assumed her position in July.

Although there are no official diplomatic relations between and Israel and Saudi Arabia, multiple reports indicate that the two countries covertly maintain ties at some level.

Both countries perceive Iran as a significant threat and collaborate in order to combat its expansionist threat. Last year, Saudi Arabia acquired its first Iron Dome anti-rocket system from Israel as part of a recent rapprochement between the two countries

According to a report by the U.K.-based Arab paper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is encouraging the Arab world to resolve political differences with Israel and establish commercial ties with the Jewish State.

As far back as 2015, Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal was quoted by the British Sunday Times newspaper as saying that “Saudi Arabia has reached a political maturity to constitute a durable alliance with the Jewish nation,” adding that he would “side with the Jewish nation and its democratic aspirations in case of outbreak of a Palestinian Intifada [uprising] and I shall exert all my influence to break any ominous Arab initiatives” to condemn Israel.

“I deem the Arab-Israeli entente and future friendship necessary to impede the Iranian dangerous encroachment,” the prince added.