The American president hopes that normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia can be achieved soon
Donald Trump aims to quickly revive the Abraham Accords. Axios reported that, in October, the American president urged the Saudi crown prince, Mohammad bin Salmanto normalize relations between Riyadh and Jerusalem. “Our message to the Saudis is, ‘We’ve done everything you asked of us. Now, there are things that President Trump wants, like normalizing relations with Israel. So, how are you going to move in that direction now?'” a US official said.
The Saudi position and the Palestinian issue
Yet, at least apparently, the road to normalization does not seem to be exactly downhill. Haaretzciting Palestinian sources, reported that Riad has no intention of proceeding with normalization as long as the government led by is in power Benjamin Netanyahu. In particular, the Saudis would like to “condition normalization on a clear diplomatic proposal for the creation of a Palestinian state”: Palestinian state which, as is known, the right wing of the current Israeli executive is not willing to allow. In all this, according to Axios, “Israel does not oppose the sale of F-35 fighters by the United States to Saudi Arabia, but wants this to be conditional on the kingdom’s normalization of relations with the Jewish state”.
An upcoming meeting at the White House
Let’s remember that bin Salman should meet Trump Tuesday at White House. And that on the meeting table there will predictably be a lot of the dossiers of the Abraham Accords as much as that of F-35. “I hope that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords as soon as possible,” the American president said last Friday. The issue is therefore significant, but perhaps not insurmountable.
Parallel diplomatic pressures
Clearly the White House is trying to apply pressure in two directions: on the right wing of the Israeli government and on Riad. All this, without neglecting that, in the end, relations between Saudi Arabia and the Jewish state could be less tense than the two want to let on. In fact, let’s not forget that the son-in-law of Trump, Jared Kushneris playing a crucial role in US diplomacy in the Middle East. The same Kushner who historically entertains solid bonds so much with Israel how much with Saudi Arabia. Among other things, another element should not be overlooked: the reconstruction of Gaza. This is a factor that represents a potential bond between Jerusalem and Riyadh. And it is precisely on this dossier that Trump is trying to leverage to promote the normalization of relations between the two countries.
The Iran factor and the new possible agreement
Last but not least, a further glue emerges. The commune fear of Israelis and Saudis towards Tehran’s atomic ambitions. This is why Trump wants to negotiate a new agreement with Iranwhich prevents him from obtaining nuclear weapons. It is in this context that, on Sunday, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, Abbas Araghchihas timidly opened up to a resumption of talks with Washington.
