Saudi Arabia Blocks Israelis From Attending UN Event
The villagers of Muslim-majority Kfar Kama had looked forward to the UN ceremony honoring the world’s best rural tourism destinations, but they never received their visas.
Representatives from Kfar Kama were invited to a UN event honoring the world’s best tourism villages but didn’t receive visas from Saudi Arabia.
Photographer: Adam Choshha
A group of Israeli Muslims invited to a United Nations tourism event to honor their picturesque mountain village was unexpectedly blocked from attending by host Saudi Arabia, a sign that Israel’s hopes of warming relations with Riyadh may be premature.
The Israeli village of Kfar Kama in the Galilee region was among 32 spots chosen by the UN as the best rural tourism destinations of the year. Winners were picked for their cultural and natural assets, as well as their commitment to economic, social and environmental sustainability.