A Saudi Arabian pundit has been interviewed on Israeli television for the first time ever.

Most Arab countries have no diplomatic ties with Israel and there has never been such a discussion with a Saudi national on Israeli TV.

But this week Abdulhameed Hakim, the director of the Middle East research institute in Jeddah, agreed to speak to Israel’s Channel 2 on the subject of the ongoing crisis over Qatar.

So far nine Middle Eastern countries have moved to indefinitely sever ties with Qatar over allegations that it supports terrorism and is attempting to destabilise the region.

Saudi Arabia has cut all land, sea and air links with Qatar, and the UAE has closed its airports and harbors to Qatari flights and shipping.

Conducted in Arabic, the TV interview was hosted by Ehud Yaari, the Arab affairs editor of Channel 2.

Mr Hakeem said there was no space for “terrorism” in the approach adopted by countries in the region. He added groups that want to use religion to achieve political goals – such as Hamas – should not have a place in the Gulf. 

He ended his interview by saying that it was time for a "new Middle East", based on love and peace and coexistence and denying hate and violence and extremism, according to Middle East Eye.