In Jerusalem, political insiders are reportedly deliberating a response to Saudi Arabia's request for the capability to enrich uranium, which could potentially be weaponized. This comes in spite of the earlier public pronouncements suggesting resistance to such a move.
Tzachi Hanegbi, the leader of the Israeli National Assembly, has intimated that Israel might be amenable to allowing Saudi Arabia a civilian nuclear reactor without the enrichment feature. He mentioned to the reporters of “Channel 14 News”, “If it were just about a civilian nuclear reactor, we could strike an agreement with the Saudis instantly. However, the real discussions span broader issues."
In return for normalizing relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia is seeking formal U.S. security guarantees, assistance with a civilian nuclear program, and access to more sophisticated U.S. weapons. @Ibishblog https://t.co/UkItYj8ehx
— AGSIW (@GulfStatesInst) August 15, 2023
The potential peace agreement with Saudi Arabia carries historic and strategic significance. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing tremendous pressure to secure such a groundbreaking diplomatic achievement. Yet, two pressing concerns overshadow these talks. The primary apprehension is the initiation of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, spurred by a Saudi nuclear program. The subsequent worry is the uncertainty surrounding the future governance of Saudi Arabia. There's an underlying fear that if the current regime in Riyadh changes, nuclear assets might end up in extremist hands. However, the prevailing sentiment is that the present Saudi regime doesn't pose a nuclear threat to Israel.
Adding another layer to this intricate issue is the ongoing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This understanding reportedly gives Riyadh some degree of access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, though the specifics of such conditions remain ambiguous. Those advocating for accommodating Saudi's nuclear aspirations argue that the aforementioned pact diminishes the risks associated with refusing Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions. This dilemma is currently a subject of intense, behind-the-scenes deliberation, especially in light of potential normalization ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel in the foreseeable future.
State Department: We are not close to a nuclear deal with Iran.
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) August 16, 2023
US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said:
We are not close to any nuclear deal with Iran.
The issue of prisoner exchange is completely separate from other issues. pic.twitter.com/cZR9D8y2pQ
These discussions in Israel emerge in the wake of statements from senior officials within the Biden administration. They reportedly conveyed to the Yedioth Ahronoth that the probability of a trilateral agreement involving the U.S., which would result in normalized relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, currently lingers between 30 to 35 percent. One official noted, "The path to such an agreement is convoluted. Numerous pivotal issues need addressing before even broaching the Palestinian matter, such as the nuclear topic and defense agreements. When the time comes to discuss the Palestinian issue, Israel will be expected to make significant concessions."
