Israeli Minister: Saudi Arabia Should Lead Peace Process

Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, a close confidante of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and a member of his security cabinet, has called on Saudi Arabia to take a more proactive role in the U.S.-led peace process with the Palestinians. In what is being construed as an olive branch to Riyadh, Katz gave a wide-ranging interview to Elaph, a London-based Arabic news website owned by a Saudi businessman; this, just weeks after IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot made rare statements to the same outlet. Katz called on the House of Saud to support the White House’s peace initiative, complimented heir to the throne Mohammed bin Salman for his efforts to modernize the kingdom and stressed that Jerusalem and Riyadh see eye-to-eye “on everything” regarding Iran. Israel has repeatedly hinted at a growing rapprochement with the Saudis, driven primarily by shared concerns over Tehran’s regional expansionism and potential nuclearization. Notably, while Wednesday’s meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul brought together nearly two dozen Muslim heads of state, Saudi Arabia was represented by a comparably low-level diplomat. The summit’s host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, criticized the Arab world for what he perceives as a muted response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem at Israel’s capital, a barb some believe was directed at Riyadh. Katz concluded his interview by calling on King Salman to invite Netanyahu for a visit and for the Saudi crown prince to venture to Israel.