On 26 January, Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced that Israeli citizens will be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia under certain circumstances, a further step in the rapprochement between the two countries. These circumstances include religious reasons like the hajj – the annual Islamic pilgrimage – or business visits for up to nine days. However, the statement also made clear that travelers would still need permission from Saudi authorities to enter into the country, as the two states do not have official diplomatic relations. Muslim Palestinian citizens of Israel have been travelling to Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the hajj, but without an official clearance from the Israeli Government. Following this announcement, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud declared that Israelis are not welcomed to visit the country.