'Welcome to Riyadh': Saudi Arabia officially opens its doors to Israeli journalist for first time

Riyadh: I wrapped by head in a scarf as did all the other women who arrived on the Qatari aircraft that flew us to Riyadh while hesitantly presenting my passport. "You are on the list," said the Saudi press officer who welcomed us warmly. "Welcome to the Saudi kingdom."

I marched on the gleaming marble floor and couldn't quite believe it: Long days of uncertainty had elapsed with a diplomatic incident looming in the background until finally receiving authorization to be the only Israeli journalist present at the Arab summit in Riyadh.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is currently engaged in promoting the Saudi peace initiative between Israel and the Arab states, wanted to convey a placating message: He believed that if he brought a joint delegation comprising Arab journalists and an Israel media representative on the same plane, he would succeed in partially breaking the ice.

This is my only diplomatic achievement during the three months I have been in office, the secretary general told me with a broad smile on his face while on board the flight to Riyadh. There are many things I am handling that have yet to mature. In this case I succeeded and I am happy, he said. I told him that I was too.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3382305,00.html

So she's an Israeli reporter, but on paper ... she's French, working for an Israeli paper. No?