Saudi Arabia And Israel Drive A Hard Bargain For Normalization
Saudi Arabia and Israel are both asking a high price from the US, which hopes to establish formal diplomatic ties between the two middle eastern nations.
Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visits Washington this week for talks with senior officials, including US President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan. In a phone call last month, Netanyahu told Biden that, as part of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. he wanted a security treaty with the United States that would be focused on deterring Iran
US and Israeli officials may not want to admit it, but there is little doubt that the Israeli demand complicates Biden’s already complex efforts to persuade the two nations to formalize their substantial informal ties.
Saudi Arabia has likewise asked for concessions that cater to its security and geopolitical interests. It is demanding security arrangements with the United States, US support for its peaceful nuclear program and greater access to sophisticated US weaponry. Like Israel, the kingdom wants a formalized security agreement, even if that accord may not target Iran as explicitly as Israel’s request does.
Saudi Arabia has also made Israeli moves to resolve its conflict with the Palestinians a pre-condition for a rapprochement...
