The White House announced that there is progress toward a groundbreaking deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations after decades of hostility, brokered by the United States. President Joe Biden aims to reshape the Middle East and achieve a diplomatic victory in an election year by securing Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel, a significant step given Saudi Arabia’s role as the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that all sides have worked on a preliminary framework for potential agreements. However, he emphasized that complex arrangements like this one will require compromise and actions from all parties involved.
The United States has been encouraging its Middle Eastern allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, to normalize diplomatic relations, following similar agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both indicated that they are moving closer to such a normalization.
Saudi Arabia has sought security assurances, including a possible treaty with the United States, in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel. Nevertheless, the Palestinians have insisted on their inclusion in any deal, emphasizing the necessity of a two-state solution for peace in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Netanyahu recently expressed optimism about the prospect of peace with Saudi Arabia, potentially brokered by President Biden, with the potential to reshape the Middle East. However, Netanyahu also rejected Palestinian efforts to veto regional negotiations.
The anticipation of Israel normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, a nation that houses Islam’s two holiest shrines, has grown. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated that a deal is nearing completion, and Netanyahu and Biden held a long-awaited meeting to discuss the possibilities.
Netanyahu referenced the 2020 normalization accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, known as the Abraham Accords, as a precursor to potential peace with Saudi Arabia. He noted that these accords marked a new era of peace, and he believes a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is on the horizon.
Such an agreement would likely require significant support among US lawmakers, particularly with a presidential election approaching in 2024.
There have been reports suggesting that several Islamic nations may follow suit and normalize relations with Israel after Saudi Arabia’s potential inclusion in the Abraham Accords. However, the names of these countries have not been disclosed, and the situation in Libya may be a factor affecting these developments. It should be noted that there is no evidence to support claims that the Israeli Foreign Minister met with Pakistani officials to discuss normalization.