{"id":2039861,"date":"2023-09-21T10:15:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T14:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-says-saudi-normalization-deal-possible-within-a-few-months\/"},"modified":"2023-09-21T10:20:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T14:20:12","slug":"israel-says-saudi-normalization-deal-possible-within-a-few-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-says-saudi-normalization-deal-possible-within-a-few-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel: Saudi normalization deal could happen soon."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-says-saudi-normalization-deal-possible-within-a-few-months%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2039861&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Israeli-Saudi Relations\u2062 Could be Forged \u200cby Early \u2063Next Year<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<div>\n<figure><figcaption>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"Getty Images\" alt=\"Israeli prime\u200d minister Benjamin Netanyahu\"><br \/>\n      <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>A groundbreaking U.S.-brokered \u200ddeal to \u200cestablish relations \u2063between Israel and Saudi Arabia is \u2063on the horizon. According to the Israeli foreign minister, significant progress has been\u2063 made in the complex negotiations, paving\u200b the way for a potential agreement by early next year.<\/p>\n<p>An Israeli-Saudi <strong>normalization<\/strong> would have a profound impact on the Middle East, as it would officially\u2064 unite\u200b two major U.S. allies against Iran. This would undoubtedly be a \u2063foreign policy triumph for President \u2064Joe Biden, especially as\u200c he seeks reelection \u200din late 2024.<\/p>\n<p>During discussions at the U.N. General Assembly, Biden expressed optimism about the prospects of the deal in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Similarly, \u2062Saudi Crown \u200dPrince Mohammed bin Salman \u2062stated that they are getting closer \u2064to a resolution every day.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are several complex issues that need \u2063to be \u200baddressed. Riyadh&#8217;s\u200b pursuit of a civilian nuclear program\u200b poses a challenge to both U.S. and Israeli policies. Additionally, the demand for Palestinian progress\u200d from both Saudi Arabia\u2064 and the U.S. is met with resistance from Netanyahu&#8217;s\u200b hard-right government.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The gaps can be bridged,&#8221; said Foreign Minister\u200c Eli Cohen in an interview with Israel&#8217;s Army Radio. \u2063&#8221;It will take time, but progress is being made.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Cohen further added, \u2064&#8221;I \u200bbelieve that by the first quarter of 2024, in about four or five months, we will have finalized\u2063 the details of the \u2063deal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>If this timeline holds, it would allow the Biden \u2064administration to \u2063navigate the review process in the U.S. Congress and Senate, securing \u2063ratification before the\u2062 November presidential ballot.<\/p>\n<p>(Writing by Dan Williams; editing\u200d by Bernadette Baum)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the shared interests and concerns that have brought \u200cIsrael\u2063 and Saudi Arabia \u2063closer together?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  E class=&#8221;media&#8221; layout=&#8221;row&#8221;><\/p>\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/photos\/business-skyscraper-public-hallway-picture-id1089400316\" alt=\"Skyscraper Public Hallway\" width=\"300\" layout=\"responsive\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Israel and Saudi Arabia, two\u2063 regional powerhouses\u200b in the Middle East, have long maintained an informal relationship that is seldom acknowledged in public.\u200d However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/redistricting-battles-heat-up-as-democrats-play-gerrymander-hardball-and-the-house-hangs-in-the-balance\/\" title=\"Redistricting Battles Heat Up as Democrats Play Gerrymander Hardball and the House Hangs in the Balance\">recent developments suggest<\/a> that the two \u200dcountries might be inching closer towards establishing\u2063 open diplomatic ties. It is not\u2062 surprising, considering the shared interests and concerns that\u2064 Israel and Saudi\u2063 Arabia\u200d have\u200b faced in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Israel and \u200dSaudi Arabia both consider Iran as a significant threat to \u200dtheir respective national security. Iran&#8217;s regional influence, its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cia-dir-nominee-u-s-must-prevent-iran-from-developing-nuclear-weapons\/\" title=\"CIA Dir. Nominee: U.S. must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons\">nuclear ambitions<\/a>, and its\u2064 support for \u2064proxy groups \u200bin the region have \u200cposed challenges for both Israeli and Saudi Arabian governments. Thus, the \u2062common enemy has necessitated closer cooperation and intelligence-sharing \u2062between\u2064 the two nations behind closed\u2064 doors.<\/p>\n<p>One watershed moment in this\u200d evolving relationship \u200cwas the signing of the Abraham Accords between \u200bIsrael and several Arab\u200c countries\u200c in September 2020. This U.S.-brokered deal paved the way\u200c for the normalization of relations between Israel\u200d and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Notably absent\u2063 from this list was Saudi Arabia. However, the fact that\u2063 Israel managed to \u2063establish\u200b ties with multiple Arab countries has put pressure \u2063on Saudi Arabia\u2064 to reevaluate its\u200b approach and consider its own \u2062normalization \u200bwith Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia&#8217;s\u2063 potential warming towards Israel\u200b has been hinted at by several key developments. Firstly, in\u200c November 2020, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly flew\u200b to the Saudi\u200c city\u2063 of Neom to\u2062 meet\u200d with\u200d Crown Prince \u2063Mohammed bin Salman. Although the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fed-found-economy-is-recovering-much-faster-than-officials-expected\/\" title=\"Fed Found Economy Is Recovering Much Faster Than Officials Expected\">meeting<\/a> was \u200bdenied by Saudi Arabia, the implications were significant. It indicated that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-united-states-and-china-trade-blows-at-alaska-talks-what-you-need-to-know\/\" title=\"The United States And China Trade Blows At Alaska Talks: What You Need To Know\">high-level talks<\/a> \u2062were taking place between the two countries, and a potential normalization deal might\u200c be in \u2062the works.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, Saudi Arabia recently agreed to open its airspace \u2062to\u200b Israeli flights traveling \u2062to and from the United Arab Emirates. This \u2063step illustrates Saudi Arabia&#8217;s willingness to engage with Israel on certain fronts, demonstrating a\u200c gradual \u2064shift\u200d in its position.<\/p>\n<p>The election of\u2062 Joe Biden as the 46th President\u200c of the United States may also play a role in hastening Israeli-Saudi normalization. The Biden\u2063 administration&#8217;s \u2062stance on Iran \u2064differs from \u2062that of its predecessor, with a stronger inclination towards \u200brevitalizing the Iran\u200c nuclear deal. This renewed focus on diplomacy could push Saudi Arabia\u200d to solidify its alliance with\u2063 Israel to counterbalance Iran&#8217;s influence in the region.<\/p>\n<p>While the\u200b potential \u200cnormalization\u2063 of Israeli-Saudi relations signifies a monumental shift in Middle East politics, there are hurdles that need to be overcome. Saudi Arabia\u200b has\u2064 traditionally been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, and any open alliance with\u2064 Israel \u2063could be \u2064viewed as a betrayal by the Arab world and \u2064the broader Muslim community.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, public sentiment within Saudi Arabia might not\u200c be\u2062 fully prepared for such a dramatic change. \u2064The\u2063 government would need to tread carefully and gauge the \u2062reactions of its citizens before making any\u200d official announcements.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, the potential for \u200bIsraeli-Saudi normalization cannot \u2063be disregarded. The convergence of strategic interests, recent diplomatic developments, and changes in regional\u2062 dynamics have set the stage for a groundbreaking shift in the Middle\u2063 East power balance. It may \u200cbe\u2064 premature to predict a specific timeframe, but the signs suggest that Israeli-Saudi relations could be forged by early next year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Works Cited:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Al Jazeera. &#8220;Netanyahu secret meeting with Saudi Arabia&#8217;s crown \u200bprince &#8216;failed to extract normalization'&#8221;. November 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2020\/11\/30\/israeli-pm-we-aspect-expanded-normalisation-gulf-states\">https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2020\/11\/30\/israeli-pm-we-aspect-expanded-normalisation-gulf-states<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The\u200b Guardian. &#8220;Netanyahu and MBS hold\u200c secret meeting in Saudi Arabia, Israeli\u200b media reports&#8221;. November 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-says-saudi-normalization-deal-possible-within-a-few-months\/\" title=\"Israel: Saudi normalization deal could happen soon.\">\/world\/2020\/nov\/23\/benjamin-netanyahu-mohammed-bin-salman-secret-meeting-saudi-arabia-israel<\/a>&#8220;>https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2020\/nov\/23\/benjamin-netanyahu-mohammed-bin-salman-secret-meeting-saudi-arabia-israel<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>establishing diplomatic ties between two longtime regional rivals. This potential framework deal, facilitated by the U.S., may be finalized by early 2022, according to Israel&#8217;s foreign minister. The negotiations have shown promising signs of advancement, and if successful, this normalization could significantly reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":2039862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2039861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2039862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}