The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be historic. The US government recently dampened expectations – but now there has been movement in the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees the establishment of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia within reach. “I believe that we are on the threshold of a (…) historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” Netanyahu said today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “Just as we achieved the Abraham Accords under President Trump’s leadership, I firmly believe we can achieve peace with Saudi Arabia under President Biden’s leadership.” This would “create a new Middle East.”
Nevertheless, he spoke out against a “right of veto” for the Palestinians in the process. “We must not give the Palestinians veto power over Israel’s relations with the Arab states,” Netanyahu said. He argued: “When the Palestinians see that most of the Arab world has reconciled with Israel, they will take the path of real peace.”
Crown Prince: “For the first time something really serious”
On Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman confirmed in an interview that both countries are on the path to normalizing their relations. “We are getting closer to this every day, for the first time it seems to be something really serious,” said the crown prince. However, he emphasized that an agreement depends largely on Israel’s dealings with the Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas did not directly address the rapprochement in his speech to the UN yesterday, but made it clear: “Whoever believes that peace can prevail in the Middle East without the Palestinian people enjoying their full and legitimate national rights Come on, he’s wrong.”
Officially, Riyadh has no relations with Israel, but both countries have secretly been working together on security issues for a long time. For decades, a formal rapprochement seemed all but impossible. The USA is Israel’s protective power and also an important ally for Saudi Arabia. There are still many open questions and high hurdles to a possible breakthrough. This also includes Israel’s right-wing, religious government, where concessions to the Palestinians would be very difficult to enforce.
Source: Stern
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