200 Jewish, Christian, Muslim leaders invited attend interfaith conference in Spain to confront common challenges
 
TEL AVIV - Saudi Arabia has invited an Israeli rabbi to an interfaith conference in Spain, potentially the first step in wider contacts between the kingdom and Israel, the rabbi said on Thursday.

Rabbi David Rosen said Saudi Arabia called the conference, set for Madrid from July 16-18, to bring world religions together to confront common challenges. Rosen called the invitation "a historic step."

No comment was available Thursday from the Saudi embassy in Madrid.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia has traditionally shunned any public contact with Israel or its representatives, as it would cause …