Against the backdrop of the visit of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Saudi Arabia, the senior journalist of the "New York Times", Thomas Friedman, who recently visited Riyadh, reported that "from talks with a senior Saudi official, the kingdom has not yet decided how much progress they will demand from Israel on the Palestinian issue, in return to promote relations between the countries, but it will not be zero." Despite this assessment, it appears the Saudi side will forego any demands on the Palestinian issue if the United States capitulates to three Saudi demands.
Friedman claimed that "the Saudis are very competitive with the Emirates, and Riyadh will almost certainly want to receive more from Israel in order for it to sign the Abraham Accords." In other words, the Saudis have a need to feel as if they accomplished more than the Emirates in signing a normalization agreement with Israel. The noted columnist who is often overly critical of Israel, emphasized that Israel and Saudi Arabia are talking behind the scenes about the terms of peace between them, with the Saudis expecting three main things: a long-term security agreement with the United States, American support for a civilian nuclear program, and access to the most advanced weapons of the American military. In exchange for this, according to Friedman, Israel believes that Saudi Arabia will indeed agree to normalize relations without taking any steps on the Palestinian issue.
Blinken heads to Riyadh with Israel normalization on agenda
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 6, 2023
'The Saudis are asking for guarantees vis-a-vis Iran and apparently have not obtained all of them... The U.S can't humiliate themselves and give everything the Saudis want but they also know the Saudis are not going to… pic.twitter.com/iTeip5yJmQ
Friedman's words came at the moment of the meeting held in Jeddah between Blinken and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi media reported that the two discussed relations between the two countries, cooperation in various fields, and regional and international developments. Blinken also discussed with his hosts a renewed understanding of oil prices. This is in an attempt to prevent the growing Chinese influence in the region. In addition, the parties also discussed the possibilities of normalization in relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
An American official who accompanied Blinken on the trip said that the meeting, which lasted about two and a half hours, was "honest and open" and revolved around many inter-political issues. He added that there was "a good atmosphere despite the tensions that remained in the relations between the two countries."
🇺🇲🇸🇦 The normalization of diplomatic ties with Israel was on the agenda. Riyadh has said depends on Palestinian statehood and Saudi developing a civilian nuclear program first.
— RADAR ID INTL (@RADARIDNEWS) June 8, 2023
Blinken’s visit comes two days before Saudi Arabia hosts a major Arab-Chinese investment conference.
Another American source reported that the two discussed "the prospects of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel and agreed to continue dialogue on the issue." However, it was emphasized that "the chances of immediate or significant progress are not high." The source added that the Saudi Crown Prince and the American Secretary of State also discussed the war in Yemen and the ways in which the issue at hand can be resolved.
Blinken said Washington had "a real national security interest" in advocating for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) June 8, 2023
https://t.co/NDLx1HFKYC
The Biden administration is under pressure from the progressive wing of the Democrat party to shun all contact and relations with Saudi Arabia. The congressional 'Squad' members Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio Cortes, and Ayannah Pressley have used the Saudi human rights record as the reason for their disapproval of American détente with Saudi Arabia, however, it is more likely that they are trying to thwart an Israel-Saudi peace deal.
This is a direct result of Joe Biden and the Democrats ideologically made policy decisions. Hang on to your wallets folks. Day to day living will become more challenging.
— MRVen (@MRVen15679250) June 6, 2023
Saudi Arabia to Cut Oil Production by 1 Million Barrels per Day to Boost Priceshttps://t.co/OhsDm4ALfz
Despite the internal pressure, Biden is unpopular among the electorate and is desperate for a foreign relations win after failures on the American southern border and a prolonged war in Ukraine which has seen American taxpayers send close to $200 billion to support. Some analysts speculate that even with the unreasonable requests by Saudi Arabia, it is not a certainty that Biden and his team would reject it if it could mean a Peace deal with Israel before next year's presidential election.
