Israel blocks Arab minister’s weekend visit to Ramallah

Israel has blocked a high-profile delegation of Arab foreign ministers, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, from visiting the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported. According to US media Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally backed the initiative as a gesture of support for the embattled Palestinian Authority. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan, were scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday. The visit would have marked the first of its kind since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.  A Palestinian official says it's unclear if talks are being held between Israel and Arab or American officials in a bid to change the decision and allow the delegation to enter the West Bank.