Israeli journalist raises Saudi flag in Jerusalem, invites Saudis to visit

An Israeli journalist has raised the Saudi flag in Jerusalem's Old City and called for official diplomatic relations with the kingdom.

Footage of the publicity stunt was posted on the Israeli foreign ministry's Arabic-language Twitter account last week.

"I really hope that there will be peace with Saudi Arabia, and I could come over to Saudi Arabia to visit, and the people from Saudi Arabia can come over to Israel and visit," Yanki Farber says.

"We are really looking for peace between the two countries," the writer for Orthodox news website B'hadrei Hadarim added.

The video was shot outside the Hebron Gate in the northwestern part of Jerusalem's Old City.

The stunt comes after a Saudi blogger visited Jerusalem, where residents targeted him with abuse and hurled chairs at him.

Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have formal diplomatic relations, but the two have developed close ties due to shared concerns regarding Iran.

Israel's foreign ministry often posts propaganda promoting approachment with Gulf states.