A top Israeli official has expressed optimism about the potential for a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia before the US presidential election. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the official revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed this critical issue with US President Joe Biden during their recent meeting at the White House.
"If the costs are acceptable to us, it could develop even before the elections," the Israeli official stated, highlighting the shared strategic interests between Israel and Saudi Arabia, particularly in curbing Iran’s influence in the region.
This upbeat assessment stands in contrast to earlier statements from both American and Israeli sources. Earlier this month, it was widely believed that the deal was unachievable before the November 5 election. Netanyahu's meetings with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday marked a significant diplomatic effort, following the prime minister's bold speech to Congress, where he envisioned a regional anti-Iran coalition comprising the US, Israel, and its Arab allies. Notably, Netanyahu did not specifically mention Saudi Arabia or the ongoing normalization talks during his address.
#NEW: An Israeli official told reporters that a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia could happen before the U.S. elections in November.@IsraeliPM
— BREAKING NEWS - ALERTS (@IsraelNews23) July 26, 2024
Netanyahu discussed the possibility with@POTUS
Biden during their meeting on Thursday.
Diverging Views on the Timeline
Senior congressional sources, speaking earlier to The Times of Israel, had cast doubt on the possibility of finalizing a deal before the election. They argued that there wasn’t enough time for Congress to authorize the comprehensive security package sought by Riyadh as part of the broader initiative pushed by the Biden administration. These sources, however, did not completely rule out the possibility of a deal between the election and the next presidential inauguration, though they deemed it highly unlikely. An Israeli official echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Republican lawmakers might be unwilling to grant Biden a diplomatic victory in an election year.
A White House official provided a slightly more hopeful perspective, indicating that the window for securing a deal had not completely closed. However, they emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza was a prerequisite, a point reinforced by top US and Saudi officials. Riyadh, they noted, could not feasibly promote a normalization agreement domestically or regionally while the Israel-Hamas conflict persisted.
A normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still possible before the November presidential election, an Israeli official said during a briefing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the matter with US President Joe Biden during their meeting on…
— CYNN (@CYNN_Official) July 26, 2024
Hostage Crisis and Diplomatic Efforts
The recent hostage crisis has added a layer of complexity to the normalization talks. Relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas reported feeling more optimistic after meeting with Biden and Netanyahu. This cautious optimism stemmed from the memory of a weeklong ceasefire in November, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, which led to the release of 105 hostages.
US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the few Republicans open to supporting a deal brokered by a Democratic White House, estimated in January that the Biden administration had until June to finalize the normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. In a July 15 interview, Biden mentioned that Saudi Arabia was interested in normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for US security guarantees. However, Riyadh has not publicly confirmed this and has maintained that normalization with Israel is contingent upon establishing a pathway to a future Palestinian state, a condition that Netanyahu has firmly rejected.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
Netanyahu was also scheduled to meet with former US President Donald Trump in Florida on Friday. Trump, who facilitated the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized Israel’s relations with the UAE and Bahrain, had predicted that Saudi Arabia would eventually join these agreements. During his presidency, Trump aligned closely with Netanyahu’s anti-Iran stance, notably withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, a move that Netanyahu had ardently supported.
#NEW: An Israeli official told reporters that a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia could happen before the U.S. elections in November. @IsraeliPM Netanyahu discussed the possibility with @POTUS Biden during their meeting on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/XpbNMXzRMt
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) July 26, 2024
The momentum towards normalization had been building in 2023 but was abruptly halted by the outbreak of war in Gaza. Just days before the October 7 Hamas attack, which led to nearly 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages, Israel had made significant diplomatic inroads. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi led a delegation to Saudi Arabia, marking the second high-level visit in less than a week, following Tourism Minister Haim Katz’s historic visit.
Conclusion
While the path to normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia remains fraught with challenges, the recent diplomatic efforts and shared strategic interests offer a glimmer of hope. The coming months will be critical as both nations navigate the complex geopolitical landscape and seek to turn this diplomatic vision into reality before the US presidential election.
