The flags of Saudi Arabia & Israel in Riyadh during the FIFAe Club World Cup in July

Prince Bin Salman: Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.S. Paving Way To Historic Agreement

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The Judean Staff
National

In a noteworthy development, Israel is reportedly engaged in discreet discussions with the Biden administration to facilitate uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia. This move, as per a widely circulated report from the "Wall Street Journal," is aimed at enabling nuclear development in Saudi Arabia for purely civilian purposes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is spearheading these behind-the-scenes negotiations on behalf of Israel. The objective is to align with the Biden administration's stance and support Saudi Arabia's request for civilian nuclear development on its soil. This trilateral engagement involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel holds the potential to usher in a significant shift in regional dynamics, a topic that has been openly discussed by all parties involved for some time.

This development coincides with an intriguing interview conducted by Fox News with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. During this interview, Bin Salman refuted claims that Saudi Arabia had halted talks regarding normalization agreements with Israel. He emphasized that the talks were progressing positively, stating, "The talks are good, and we are getting closer every day. This is the first time it's serious. We'll see how it goes." The Crown Prince went on to highlight the pivotal role of the Biden administration in proposing a groundbreaking opportunity for establishing relations with Israel, one that could potentially become the most "significant agreement since the end of the Cold War."

Moreover, Bin Salman emphasized that any agreement would be rooted in previous accords concerning the Palestinian issue. He made it abundantly clear that dialogue with Israel would continue irrespective of the composition of the Israeli government, expressing his readiness to negotiate with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The talks will continue regardless of who runs Israel," he affirmed.

Bin Salman also touched upon the Palestinian issue, underscoring its significance: "The Palestinian point is very important to us; we need to make the lives of Palestinians easier. We hope to improve their lives and make Israel a regional player." While he expressed a commitment to addressing Palestinian needs, he did not delve into specifics regarding Palestinian statehood or territorial adjustments within the current Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction.

Several analysts noted that MBS did not specifically call for a Palestinian State, rather just making their lives easier. The Saudis have had a complicated relationship with the Palestinians under Mahmoud Abbas. Once a significant contributor to the PA, the Saudis cut aid significantly to the Palestinians in 2016 over allegations of corruption and incompetence, stopping all aid ultimately in 2021. Last month, the Crown Prince said he would be willing to resume aid in exchange for cooperation and support in advancing normalization with Israel. Several Fatah leaders panned the offer as a payoff to pacify Palestinians as the proverbial leader of the Arab world pivots toward Israel. 

These intriguing developments come on the heels of a recent meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, which took place during the UN General Assembly. Following the meeting, the White House announced its invitation for Netanyahu to visit before the year's end. Moreover, the White House addressed the escalating tensions in Judea and Samaria, stressing "the need for immediate actions that would improve Israel's security and economic situation and preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, which would lead to long-term peace with the Palestinians. Biden called on all parties to fulfill the commitments they agreed upon at the summit in Egypt, including avoiding unilateral moves."

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