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Conflicting news about a possible visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia raises questions about the timing and background, especially as Israeli journalists have revealed details that are likely to happen, despite the official denial in Riyadh.
Israeli journalists who followed the flight path of the plane that took off from Israel and landed in Saudi Arabia say Netanyahu wanted it to be “public”, because it was easy to track him on the internet, and Israeli army radio carried the news, that Netanyahu did not denied, but instead declined to comment.
Israeli political researcher Eli Nisan, in an interview with Al-Hurra TV, described the meeting as a “historic” event, and that the important thing is that “the Israeli censorship did not immediately cancel this meeting, and broadcast it, and the Saudi denial did not come immediately. “
On the other hand, Saudi political analyst Ahmed Al-Shehri believes that “leaks” from the Israeli Army Radio should not be trusted in such cases, and emphasizes that there is no normalization with Israel.
Sameh Rashid, the Egyptian policy expert at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said: “When the visit took place yesterday, and was announced hours later by Israeli Army Radio, the release of the news definitely came after of military approval, so the matter is not secret, because these matters are only done by consensus. Between the two sides, Saudi Arabia certainly knows that it will be announced and agrees with that as well. “
Rashid believes that the Saudi denial is nothing more than a “maneuver”, and the Saudi Foreign Minister said that there were no official visits except between the American and Saudi sides, “and this is true because the visit was not official, and this It’s just a matter of time”.
Many Gulf states have for years maintained secret relations with Israel, based on shared concerns about Iran in particular, while the United States encourages the two sides to normalize relations.
This secret diplomacy came to light last August when the UAE, an ally of Saudi Arabia, announced the normalization of relations with the Hebrew state.
But the establishment of relations with Saudi Arabia, the regional political powers and the owner of the largest Arab economy, will inevitably be one of the most important diplomatic events in Israel’s history since its establishment 72 years ago.
Signs of the visit
Rashid says that the indications from Washington’s side are clear, which is that Trump “is trying to fulfill all his electoral promises, and the only dossier on which he has not made progress is Iran.” The other clue is that “Trump is providing Jewish lobbies with what will encourage him to run for president again.” After four years, he reduces the options and puts pressure on the Biden administration, while raising the threshold of achievement steps for President-elect Joe Biden.
Israeli political magazine Eli Nisan believes there are “indications to the Trump administration that whatever US foreign policy is, or whether President-elect Joe Biden tries to change it and return to the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran, there is a pivot between Israel and Saudi Arabia against this agreement. ”
He added to Al-Hurra’s website that “there is another message to Iran through the visit that the Middle East today is completely different than it was five years ago when the nuclear deal was concluded. Today there are many Sunni countries that they concluded peace or normalization agreements with Israel, and that there is a common denominator between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and that is Iran. ”
Nissan believes there is “the possibility of a nearby Mohammed bin Salman facility, or steps related to the internal situation.”
“Normalization is near”
Rashid believes that normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel “is in fact taking place, as there are meetings and crossings of the Israeli air forces currently over Saudi airspace, and there are actual demonstrations that have taken place, and the official announcement remains. alone”.
Rashid indicates that “the official announcement is near, within weeks, and perhaps before Trump’s departure, and if it were not soon, these steps would not have been specifically taken.
He clarifies that Netanyahu’s visit and his announcement in this way is “a prelude and preparation for the Saudi public within a reasonable period of time, for the visit to achieve its effect in preparation, otherwise it will lose its momentum.”
Nissan believes that no agreement has been reached regarding the announcement of the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, due to the opposition of the King, Salman bin Abdulaziz, who favors the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and then the signing of a peace agreement.
He added that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, “wants and desires to advance relations between Israel, in the interest of the Middle East in light of the Iranian threats and changes in the United States.”
Why the contradiction?
The Kingdom says that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a precondition for the normalization of relations, a position of great importance at the regional and international level, given that the Kingdom presents itself as the leader of the Islamic world.
The kingdom has always been very sensitive to any announcement of rapprochement with Israel, fearing internal and external reactions and criticism.
Hours before speaking about Netanyahu’s visit, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan affirmed that the Kingdom “supports full normalization with Israel, but first a permanent and comprehensive peace agreement guarantees the Palestinians their status with dignity.”
Rashid believes that the “contradiction” in the official Saudi discourse on this issue is natural, and the official media is slow to speak about the visit to avoid objections and scandalize public opinion, especially since Saudi Arabia considers itself a sponsor or leader. of the Islamic world, as well as owner of the Arab Peace Initiative. .
The move may provoke criticism again on the Arab street that regional powers are abandoning the Palestinian people and their cause for the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
But Israeli analyst Eli Nisan says “there has been a long wait for the implementation of the Arab initiative, but in recent months the equation has changed.”
He explained: “Instead of there being peace between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, then peace with the Arab countries, the new equation is that there is peace with many Arab countries, in the hope that this peace will lead the Palestinian side to sit down. the negotiating table, resolve the conflict and perhaps establish a state. ” Palestinian side with Israel. ”
For his part, Al-Shehri confirms that “Saudi Arabia has clearly expressed its opinion, which is that if Israel implements the Arab initiative, there may be a normalization with it, but before the Palestinian problem is resolved, there will be no normalization. , and this is a fixed position. ”
