Israeli Normalization With Saudi Arabia May Require Concessions to Palestinians
Israeli officials say substantial concessions to the Palestinians may be necessary for a potential deal to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
US officials, who recently visited the kingdom, expressed “cautious optimism” about the progress of the ongoing discussions.
US President Joe Biden has suggested that an agreement with Saudi Arabia could have significant implications. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan visited the Gulf state to address bilateral and regional matters, including initiatives to create a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Middle East.
Although Israel isn’t currently involved in the talks, it receives updates from the Biden Administration. The discussions include King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the former taking a keen interest in ensuring any agreement includes measures for the Palestinians.
The report suggests the current right-wing and religious coalition in Israel may be unwilling to offer significant concessions. US officials reportedly discussed with Saudi counterparts the potential formation of a unity government in Israel to counteract extremist elements in the Knesset.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been facing widespread protests for the past 30 weeks following his controversial push to overhaul Israel’s judicial system. Despite Netanyahu’s assurances to Biden about achieving broad consensus, his coalition passed the first bill of the overhaul plan with a 64-0 majority after the opposition left the chamber in a boycott of the vote.
