Mecca

The Saudi Public Prosecution is working to take necessary procedures against the Israeli journalist as well.

Israel's Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej (Meretz), who is Muslim himself, called the incident "a stupid thing to do and take pride in."

The announcement is expected to come during Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia later this week, the official said. Biden has made it a focus to integrate Israel into the broader Gulf region.

Pilgrims clad in white robes climbed the rocky Mount of Mercy, which oversees the plain of Arafat where the Prophet Mohammad held his last sermon.

Israel's Regional Cooperation Minister, Esawi Freij, asked Saudi Arabia to allow Muslims to take direct flights from Israel so they can make pilgrimage to Mecca without having to take two flights.

"This is a huge accomplishment for us and it is the biggest pride to be in the service of religion, the country, and the guests of God".

Islam’s sacred pilgrimage will be limited to 60,000 people already present in the kingdom due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for those willing to come to the haj and will be one of the main conditions (for receiving a permit to come)," the report said.

Before the pandemic, more than 1,300 hotels and hundreds of stores buzzed around the clock to cater to pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

According to Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the prophet was so good to his Jewish neighbor that the latter converted to Islam.