According to a recent article published in the "Wall Street Journal," officials from Saudi Arabia and former figures from the Palestinian Authority have indicated that Saudi Arabia is considering resuming financial support for the Palestinian Authority. This development is seen as an indicator of Saudi Arabia's ambition to pave the way for diplomatic relations with Israel.
Saudi representatives disclosed that their aim is to enlist the endorsement of Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen for any forthcoming diplomatic overtures towards Israel. Such backing would lend broader legitimacy to any accord, mitigating potential criticism that Riyadh is sidelining the concept of Palestinian statehood to further its own interests. Saudi Arabia's potential recognition of Israel is fraught with complexities, given that the kingdom is home to Islam's holiest sites, which affords it a unique standing within the Muslim world.
Seriously now, how does an independent Palestinian state that looks like #Lebanon, infested with pro #Iran regime militias, serve #Saudi interests?
— Hussain Abdul-Hussain (@hahussain) August 30, 2023
Why should Saudis care about transforming failing Palestinian self government into a failing Palestinian state?
In a move to further this agenda, sources reveal that a delegation of high-ranking officials from the Palestinian Authority is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia next week. The primary objective of the visit is to discuss measures that Saudi Arabia could advocate for in its negotiations with Israel to facilitate the foundation of a prospective Palestinian state.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman initially broached the topic of restoring financial aid during a meeting with Abu Mazen in Saudi Arabia last April. Both Saudi and Palestinian insiders confirmed that the Crown Prince conveyed to the Palestinian Authority Chairman that a prerequisite for resuming funding would be the Authority's ability to assert security control over the Palestinian territories. It is worth noting that, at present, the Palestinian Authority does not exercise full control over territories designated by the Oslo Accords. Regions such as Jenin, Nablus, and Gaza are governed by a combination of local and well-organized militias.
My read: “Once considered a move motivated by anti-Israel sentiments, the funding of the Palestinian Authority is now a measure employed by the Saudis to provide cover for what could come next: normalization with Israel...” https://t.co/jNVHSw2yQf
— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) August 30, 2023
Amidst ongoing speculation regarding the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a senior official in Jerusalem announced last week that significant progress had been made in talks between Saudi and American diplomats. These discussions have been invigorated by three recent visits from U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Saudi Arabia.
"We are likely talking about a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel early next year," stated the official to Yedioth Ahronoth. The negotiations have concentrated primarily on Iran and defense issues. Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in forging a defense alliance with the United States, an arrangement that would necessitate approval by a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Senate.
'This young ambitious leader is for a great peace deal that will change the Middle East... MBS wants to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,'@lalshareef talks about Saudi Arabia's offer to resume PA funding in sign of Israeli normalization#MiddleEastNow | @laura_i24 pic.twitter.com/v1fGuAuJcK
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 30, 2023
This unfolding situation reflects a multi-layered landscape of geopolitical ambitions and alignments, particularly in the context of Israeli-Saudi relations and their shared concerns about Iran.
