The negotiations include, among other things, nuclear power, recognition of Israel and security guarantees. After reports that negotiations had broken off, Saudi Arabia’s absolute ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, says that negotiations are continuing and that they hope to reach an agreement. The move came during a sensational interview with Fox News. Since this spring, the top diplomats have flown regularly between Tel Aviv, Washington and Riyadh, and in recent weeks Palestinian leaders have also jumped on the bandwagon. Three Palestinian negotiators were recently in Riyadh to present their demands. Let’s take the American Dream scenario first. The US has two main allies in the region, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia, under the authoritarian rule of Mohammed bin Salman, has become the Middle East’s leading state, and Israel has the most innovative economy and the most powerful army. Both countries have long ties to the United States, but unlike other Arab countries in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel. US President Joe Biden is trying to do something about that. His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has been to Saudi Arabia twice to discuss a possible giant diplomatic deal that would change the region. The idea is that Saudi Arabia recognizes Israel in return for substantial US compensation. Among other things, they demand access to US civilian nuclear power technology and a security guarantee from the US. The upside for the US is to tie Saudi Arabia’s great economic power more closely into the US economy, stabilize a troubled region and strengthen the alliance against Iran, as well as draw Saudi Arabia further away from China and Russia. In the interview with Fox News, Bin Salman also makes a light threat that it would be unfortunate for both parties if Saudi Arabia had to buy its weapons from other parties. The country is one of the largest importers of US weapons. For Israel, recognition by Saudi Arabia would be the major breakthrough in the Arab and Muslim world that it has sought since the establishment of the state of Israel. INTERVIEW: Mohammed bin Salman was interviewed this week by journalist Bret Baier on Fox News. Photo: Reuters It will also be a big victory for Biden, which he can take with him into the election campaign next year, although it may be difficult for him to get through an agreement in his own party. Bin Salman’s regime was, for example, behind the horrific murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and is accused by the human rights organization Human Rights Watch of killing hundreds of refugees from Ethiopia. If such an agreement is to be implemented, Palestinian rights must also be on the table. Officially, the Palestinians still want Saudi Arabia not to recognize Israel without them also getting their own state. In practice, the talks are said to have revolved around minor things, such as more control over own territory, American support for full membership in the UN and financial support from Saudi Arabia. The last time the Americans negotiated an agreement in the Middle East, the so-called Abrahams agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the Palestinians boycotted the process. This time they have chosen a different tactic, probably more out of necessity than desire. The Palestinians’ cause is weak in today’s world and they themselves are politically divided. The question is how strongly Saudi Arabia will emphasize this in the negotiations. Bin Salman said several times in the interview that this was important, but never mentioned a Palestinian state. US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, on the other hand, has spoken about the need to create a separate Palestinian state if this is to succeed. Another problem is the current Israeli government. The United States under Joe Biden has kept Benjamin Netanyahu at arm’s length and had its first meeting this week in connection with the high-level week at the UN. With extreme settlers in the government such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, there is little hope that Israel will give more to the Palestinians, let alone the creation of a separate Palestinian state. The religious Zionists with whom Netanyahu now shares a government office want to take over parts or all of the West Bank. A report we showed here in news shows how the settlers have become more violent and displace Palestinians in occupied territory with impunity. There has been speculation as to whether such a gigantic agreement could lead to a unity government in Israel, but that is perhaps more wishful thinking than a political possibility. The question is whether Biden manages to sway Netanyahu and Bin Salman, or whether the diplomatic initiative ends up where so many big plans for the Middle East often end up: In the desk drawer. Correction: The text has been rewritten after the interview with Mohammed bin Salman was published and Biden and Netanyahu met in New York.
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The US’s giant agreement in the Middle East has gained wind in its sails – Statement
