Saudi Arabia is hitting pause on U.S.-backed plans to normalize the nation’s ties with Israel and rethinking its “foreign policy priorities.”
Citing two sources “familiar with Riyadh’s thinking,” Reuters reports, “The conflict has also pushed the kingdom to engage with Iran.”
“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his first phone call from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as Riyadh tries to prevent a broader surge in violence across the region,” according to the outlet.
A key component of a prized U.S. defense pact is Riyadh’s normalization with Israel.
President Biden is nearing a “mega-deal” agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia that would include a security pact between the Saudis and U.S. The deal isn’t getting much attention, but @mehdirhasan says it would be the worst foreign policy agreement in decades. pic.twitter.com/eEeT5lkc1f
— The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) October 5, 2023
Before the attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, leaders from both Israel and Saudi Arabia had stated they were moving closer to a deal that, according to Reuters, “could have reshaped the Middle East.”
Even if Israel refused to offer Palestinians “significant concessions,” sources had previously told Reuters that Saudi Arabia would continue with its pursuit of U.S. defense pact.
That has apparently changed now that Hamas has attacked Israel and pro-Palestinian protests sweep across Europe and the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia is where Islam was born. The nation is the home of two of Islam’s holiest sites.
With images of the destruction of Gaza by Israeli forces filling Arab news, dismissing those Israeli concessions for Palestine would likely anger Arabs from across the region.
Talks cannot continue at this time, and, when they do resume, the Palestinian concessions would need to be a bigger priority, one of the sources told Reuters, suggesting that Riyadh hasn’t totally abandoned the potential deal.
“Normalisation was already considered taboo (in the Arab world) … this war only amplifies that,” Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi analyst, told the outlet.
If the sources are correct, they contradict a claim by U.S. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan, who, this week, assured a White House briefing that the normalization effort was “not on hold,” despite admitting that the focus has shifted to other immediate challenges.
“The first source familiar with Saudi thinking said Washington had pressed Riyadh this week to condemn the Hamas attack but said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan pushed back,” Reuters reports. “A U.S. source familiar with the issue confirmed this.”
Meanwhile, the Saudi crown prince and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have spoken for the first time as a result of the Israeli/Hamas war, “after a Chinese-brokered initiative prompted the Gulf rivals to re-establish diplomatic ties in April.”
The Saudi crown prince “affirmed that the Kingdom is making all possible efforts in communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation,” according to Saudi state news agency SPA, and stressed Saudi Arabia’s rejection of targeting civilians in any way.
Reuters reports:
A Saudi statement said the crown prince told Raisi “the kingdom is exerting maximum effort to engage with all international and regional parties to halt the ongoing escalation”, underling Riyadh’s move to contain the crisis.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters the call, made by Raisi to the crown prince, aimed to support “Palestine and prevent the spread of war in the region”.
“The call was good and promising,” the official said.
A second Iranian official said the call lasted 45 minutes and had the blessing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“The Saudis are still convinced the region, and Saudi Arabia itself, needs to shift toward regional cooperation and economic development,” Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said. “Iran seems to think the priority is to take the fight to the Israelis first.”
According to Jacob N. Kornbluh, a senior reporter for The Forward, Saudi Arabia’s placement of the deal “on ice” is, “What Hamas wanted.”
Jack Posobiec agreed, writing on X, “That’s what this has been all about.”
“Iran and Hamas committed this atrocity against Israel partially in order to prevent peace between Israel and the Arab world,” stated Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). “We can strike a blow to Tehran by ensuring that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still on the table.”
What Hamas wanted ⬇️
“Saudi Arabia is putting U.S.-backed plans to normalise ties with Israel on ice.” https://t.co/mSNTB587PG
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 13, 2023
That’s what this has been all about https://t.co/SsPeFX1qji
— Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2023
Iran and Hamas committed this atrocity against Israel partially in order to prevent peace between Israel and the Arab world.
We can strike a blow to Tehran by ensuring that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still on the table.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 13, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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