Saudi Arabia says incident with Rabbi Abraham Cooper was result of misunderstanding

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that the denial of Rabbi Abraham Cooper into Diriyah Gate was the result of a misunderstanding, clarifying that Riyadh’s ambassador to Washington, Princess Reema bint Bandar, had spoken with the Rabbi about the incident.

“The matter was resolved but we respect his decision to not continue the tour,” a statement from the Saudi Embassy in Washington said.

For more Saudi news, visit our dedicated page.

“We look forward to welcoming him back to the Kingdom,” the Embassy said. “This unfortunate incident was the result of a misunderstanding of internal protocols.”

Cooper was in Saudi Arabia as part of an official visit by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

He was reportedly asked to leave Diriyah after refusing to remove his kippah, a Jewish head covering.

Read more: A two-state solution is the only way for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel: Diplomat