Blinken claims Saudi-'Israel' normalization still possible

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Sep 2024 10:02
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims that a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and "Israel" is still possible before the upcoming presidential elections.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a press conference at the end of his one-day visit to Haiti at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on September 5, 2024. (AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism that a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and "Israel" could still be reached before President Joe Biden leaves office in January next year.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday at the US Chief of Mission Residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Blinken emphasized that "the ceasefire is a critical prerequisite for advancing towards normalization.

"Second, as we’ve discussed, is a credible pathway for a Palestinian state. A lot of work would have to go into that," he said.

"But given all the work that we’ve done, the United States has done with Saudi Arabia over the last year in terms of what would be required between us, given the fact that both Israel and Saudi Arabia, and in conversations with us, have expressed clearly that it’s something they’d like to pursue, I think if we can get the ceasefire in Gaza, there remains an opportunity through the balance of this administration to move forward on normalization," Blinken said.

Back in 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco entered US-brokered normalization agreements with the Israeli occupation entity.

According to reports, Washington has been actively seeking to include Saudi Arabia in these agreements, to reinforce regional support for "Israel", its key ally in the Middle East.

Timeline of Saudi-'Israel' normalization talks

In July 2023, the Biden administration revealed that a potential agreement for Saudi Arabia and "Israel" to normalize relations could be on the horizon. This announcement followed discussions between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Saudi officials in the kingdom's port city of Jeddah.

However, in September, reports surfaced that Saudi Arabia had informed the United States of its decision to halt all negotiations on the potential normalization deal. This suspension was reportedly due to the Israeli cabinet's refusal to make any concessions to the Palestinians.

A month later, following the outbreak of the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported that Riyadh had decided to "put US-backed plans to normalize ties with Israel on hold."

Last month, reports indicated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed concerns about the possibility of "assassination" if he pursued the normalization of relations between the kingdom and "Israel".

American news magazine Politico disclosed this information in a column published on August 14, citing recent conversations between the crown prince and US lawmakers.

“The Saudi royal has mentioned to members of Congress that he’s putting his life in danger by pursuing a grand bargain with the US and Israel that includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties,” according to the article.

Deal hinges on Palestinian state

The proposed deal involves significant US commitments to Saudi Arabia, including security guarantees, assistance with a civilian nuclear program, and economic investments.

In exchange, Saudi Arabia would establish diplomatic ties with "Israel", a move that would be a major breakthrough for "Israel" given what the US sees as Saudi Arabia's influence in the Israeli world.

However, MBS has insisted that any agreement must include a credible path to some Palestinian state regardless of its sovereignty and borders, a condition that has proven contentious, especially with the current Israeli regime which refuses such a state even if it was made by the isles in the West Bank separated by illegal settlements.

"The way he put it was, 'Saudis care very deeply about this, and the street throughout the Middle East cares deeply about this, and my tenure as the keeper of the holy sites of Islam will not be secure if I don’t address what is the most pressing issue of justice in our region,'" one of the sources that were present at talks informed Politico.

Despite the risks, MBS appears determined to move forward, seeing the normalization deal with the Israeli occupation as essential for Saudi Arabia's future, according to the report.