Saudi denies hiring Israeli firm to secure pilgrims

By Hussein Mahmoud

CAIRO (AA) – The Saudi embassy in Cairo has denied reports about hiring an Israeli firm to make electronic bracelets for millions of pilgrims.

An Israeli radio said Riyadh has reached a deal with an Israeli firm to provide electronic bracelets as a way to secure millions of pilgrims during the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, due to start this month.

In a Saturday statement, the Saudi embassy decried the report as “bare of truth” and called on media outlets to seek accuracy while reporting.

According to the media reports, the wristlets are resistant and connected to a GPS location system.

The electronic bracelet system was introduced last year following a deadly stampede, in which hundreds of pilgrims were killed.