Bahrain Mirror (Reuters): The Israeli army's chief of staff told an Arabic language online newspaper that Israel was ready to share "intelligence information" with Saudi Arabia.

Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot told the privately Saudi-owned Elaph in what it said was his first interview with an Arabic newspaper that Israel had a common interest with Saudi Arabia in standing up to Iran.

Asked if Israel had shared any information with Saudi Arabia, Eizenkot said: "We are ready to share information if necessary. There are many shared interests between us."

Saudi Arabia has ratcheted up pressure on arch-foe Iran, accusing Tehran of trying to expand its influence in Arab countries, often through proxies including the Lebanese Shi‘ite Hezbollah group.

Increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fueled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to working together against what they see as a common Iranian threat.

He said U.S. President Donald Trump's election on a platform that calls for increasing pressure on Iran has provided an opportunity for new alliances in the Middle East.

"A major and general strategic plan must be prepared to stop the Iranian danger, and we are ready to exchange expertise with moderate Arab states and exchange intelligence information to face Iran," he said, according to Elaph, which said the interview was conducted at Eizenkot's office in Tel Aviv by an Israeli Arab journalist.

Arabic Version