Israel Finance Minister seeks joint Mideast market

TEL AVIV - Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday he hoped US President Joe Biden's visit to the region this week will lead to a common Middle East market that includes Saudi Arabia.

Biden will start a Middle East visit in Israel on Wednesday and will then head to Saudi Arabia.

Israel normalised relations with four Arab countries under a 2020 US diplomatic drive that received Riyadh's blessing. But Saudi Arabia has itself stopped short of formally recognising Israel.

Asked at a conference what he expects to arise from Biden's visit, Lieberman said: "The creation of a new, common market in the Middle East."