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Despite pressuring its Arab allies to normalize relations with Israel, the signs that Saudi Arabia is withdrawing are increasingly clear.
Israeli leaders are concerned about what has been heard in the past two days from two very important members of the Saudi royal family about relations with Israel.
There is no doubt that they are worried about the future of normal relations with the rest of the Arab world if Saudi Arabia backs down.
After a secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi city of Nyom last month, observers began to say that diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel were only a matter of time.
While Saudi Arabia has denied that the meeting took place, almost everyone is convinced that the meeting took place, based on the silence of the Israeli government and indications from Western intelligence.
But statements made by Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in an interview with FP news agency on Saturday while attending a conference on Middle East security in Bahrain’s capital Manama raised questions about Saudi attitudes.
Prince Faisal said that without an independent Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia would not have normal relations with Israel. He said the Saudi position was strong.
“Saudi Arabia is very clear that to normalize relations, the Palestinian conflict must be resolved and that an independent and sustainable Palestinian state must be established in accordance with the 2002 Arab Peace Plan.”
“Without peace between Israel and the Palestinians, there will be no real peace and stability in the region,” he said.
The peace plan, initiated by Saudi Arabia in 2002, called on Israel to leave the Palestinian territory occupied in the 1967 war and to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel has always rejected this plan. Their argument is that it will put your safety at great risk.
As a result of the Saudi position, the possibility of normal relations with Israel in the near future will be ruined. “I am optimistic about the resolution of the Palestinian conflict,” he said.
Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief and influential member of the royal family who was a member of the Saudi delegation, spoke more aggressively at the conference in Bahrain.
“Israel always shows itself to be a small country and all the enemy countries around it always want to destroy them,” he said.
“But the reality is that Israel itself is a nuclear power.”
Prince Turki, known for being close to Saudi King Salman, said Israel was still forcibly evicting the Palestinians, destroying their villages. “The Abrahamic Pact (the Pact of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain with Israel) is not a divine document. If there is a wound in the body, it cannot be cured with painkillers. “
The separation of father and son
The question is why are the Saudis pushing back their Gulf allies on their own now?
Dr Saadi Hamdi, director of International Interest, a London-based think tank on geopolitical security, told BBC Bangla that the statement by the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister or Prince Turki al-Faisal made clear how much disagreement there was between King Salman and his son, Prince Mohammed, about relations with Israel.
“Prince is very close to King Salman of Turkey. What he said about attacking Israel in Manama is a reflection of the attitude of the Saudi king. The Saudi king has firmly opposed establishing relations with Israel without getting anything from the Palestinians. “
Furthermore, he said, a large part of the Saudi leadership is still concerned about the views of the general Arab public.
“They are concerned about the leadership of the Muslim world. Despite longstanding ties to Israel, this section of the Saudi leadership still wants to show that Saudi Arabia attaches importance to key issues in the Muslim world, such as the Palestinian issue, as a custodian of the mosques in Mecca and Medina.
“So it’s a generational divide, a division between father and son.”
How worried is Israel?
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabby Ashkenazi was sitting on the other side of a video call from Jerusalem as Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal harshly criticized Israel in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday.
At the beginning of his speech, the Israeli minister expressed his disgust at the statement by the Saudi prince. “I do not think that the statement of the Saudi ambassador is consistent with the changes that have begun in the Middle East,” he said.
The Israeli minister said that relations with the Arab world does not mean that Palestinian interests are being repressed. “Rather, the Abrahamic Covenant provided an opportunity to resolve this crisis.”
He called on the Palestinian leaders to enter into negotiations with Israel without preconditions, although such calls were of no consequence.
The reconciliation talks between the two sides have been closed since 2014. After the speech at the conference. Ashkenazi tweeted: “The allegations of the Saudi delegation to the Manama conference are unfounded. I reject your statement. The days of this kind of guilt are over. We have entered a new era. This is the era of peace. “
Researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), a security research institute in Israel. Jonathan Spire told BBC Bangla that the Saudis’ doubts about the relationship should be of concern to Israel because Saudi Arabia is “a very important country.” Other countries await his decision in Riyadh. For example, Morocco “.
Dr. “Israel understands that there is a generational conflict between the Saudi leadership and that it will take time for a formal relationship to be established,” Spire said.
But, he thinks, the secret security cooperation between the two countries that has been going on for several years will continue.
“Israel is a necessity for Saudi Arabia now. Prince Mohammed is determined to reduce his dependence on oil. He needs Israeli technology. Iran is a threat. Furthermore, Saudi leaders are well aware that Israel has the capacity to address some of the human rights crisis in the West, either through negotiations in Washington. “
Dr. Saadi Hamdi also believes that bringing up the Palestinian issue as a condition of relations with Israel does not mean that there is a fundamental change in the position of Saudi Arabia.
“I don’t see the flames that the then Saudi monarch had in the United Arab Emirates after Egypt established diplomatic relations with Israel.” Has the Saudi king condemned the United Arab Emirates? Bahrain could not have made this decision without the Saudi green signal. Saudi airspace has been opened for Israeli aircraft. “
“What I hear from Saudi leaders is an expression of some internal differences and some public relations efforts.”
So there is no reason for the Palestinians to be happy with the Saudi statement?
Dr. Saadi Hamdi believes that while there is some relief, there is no possibility of solving the plight of the Palestinians. “The Palestinians can be relieved that their problem has not gone underground. Pressure must be put on Israel. But that is very little.”
Dr. Jonathan Spire also thinks that Israel is unlikely to take the initiative to form an independent Palestinian state because the Saudi monarch wants it.
“The problem is very complex. There will be no fundamental change in a meeting or someone’s demand. The Palestinians themselves are divided. There is no communication between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank. This stalemate will not end in the near future. “
Dr. “The Israelis will play,” said Hamdi. He will await the death of King Salman. They also know that Joe Biden will not replace Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “
Source: BBC
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