Israel proposes freight rail link to Saudi Arabia via Jordan

© Anton Kudelin

Can freight help ferment better political relationships? Let’s hope so. Israel yesterday said it was proposing to link its freight railway network with Jordan and Saudi Arabia, to take goods from the port of Haifa to Dammam. Israel is trying to normalise relationships with Saudi and the Gulf Arab states. Its transport minister said the rail network would also give Palestinians greater ability to export goods from the occupied West Bank to the Arab world. It is unknown, however, whether the Arab states will agree to Israel’s initiative.