The “Wall Street Journal” writes that the “behind-the-scenes movement” between Israeli and Saudi diplomats and businessmen of the two countries is accelerating in a way that accelerates the pace of “possible normalization”. “
The newspaper said the kingdom had examined the views of its citizens, especially the youth, and noticed a “significant shift” in its support for relations with the Hebrew government.
And Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said two weeks ago that “the Saudi view says that normalization will eventually happen,” noting that “normalization will bring great benefits to all.”
At the same time, he stressed that no agreement with Israel is possible without resolving the Palestinian issue, adding that failure to resolve this issue will always be a cause of instability in the region. He denied the existence of current relations with Israel and said that the kingdom does not hide its relations.
However, The Wall Street Journal has shown that, according to those involved in the effort, a series of covert political, military and economic steps could accelerate long-term construction efforts between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
The newspaper added that Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the help of US President Joe Biden, are working to reach an agreement that could grant commercial aircraft broad rights to fly over Israel from the kingdom and pave the way for Saudi Arabia to Complete control of two smooth planes. Strategic islands in the Red Sea, Tiran and Sanafir are trying, according to insiders.
“This is in our interest,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said last week, adding that he believed “there could be a normalization process with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
“If Hamas has a relationship with Iran to protect itself, why do we not have a relationship with Israel to protect ourselves against Iran?” The newspaper quoted an unnamed Saudi official as saying.
The paper says it is possible that improving Saudi-Israeli relations could help President Biden strengthen strained relations between Washington and Riyadh.
U.S. officials have warned Saudi Arabia that there is a risk of losing economic and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two countries that are rapidly moving to take advantage of their new relationship with Israel, the paper said.
The Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post also quoted former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Joseph Westphal, as saying that he had conveyed King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s message to former US President Donald Trump at the time of his election. In it, he said, Saudi Arabia “believes in the right of Israel to exist and believes that work is important for a Palestinian state.”
Source: Lebanon Debate
