Israel assured of Saudi support in future Iranian nuke raid

London, July 5 (New Kerala): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been assured by the chief of the country's intelligence agency Mossad, Meir Dagan, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran's nuclear sites.

Dagan held secret talks with Saudi officials to discuss the possibility of such a raid earlier this year.

There were unconfirmed reports in Israeli press that high-ranking officials, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held meetings with Saudi colleagues.

"The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia," The Times quoted a diplomatic source, as saying.

Although the countries have no formal diplomatic relations, an Israeli defense source confirmed that Mossad maintained "working relations" with the Saudis.

John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations who recently visited the Gulf, said it was "entirely logical" for the Israelis to use Saudi airspace.

"None of them would say anything about it publicly but they would certainly acquiesce in an overflight if the Israelis didn't trumpet it as a big success," Bolton, who has talked to several Arab leaders, said.

Arab states would condemn a raid when they spoke at the UN but would be privately relieved to see the threat of an Iranian bomb removed, he opined.

An Israeli intelligence expert said: "The Saudis are very concerned about an Iranian nuclear bomb, even more than the Israelis."

The Israeli air force has been training for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear site at Natanz in the center of the country and other locations for four years.