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Source: http://jcpa.org/article/saudi-throne-shaking/
Is the Saudi Throne Shaking?
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (res.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - In June 2017, the Saudi Kingdom woke up with Mohammad Bin Salman as the new crown prince. King Salman has made a very daring bet by choosing his son, MBS, to succeed him, to the detriment of other parts of the royal family who feel betrayed and bypassed. MBS will now staff key government positions with princes whom he trusts and can work with without fearing a sudden reversal of allegiance to a potential competitor. At this time, it does not seem that the Saudi regime is in danger. However, an accumulation of setbacks in foreign policy, a military retreat without honor from Yemen, accompanied by a serious deterioration on the domestic scene, could lead to a revolt. It remains to be seen whether MBS will succeed in his quest to remodel Saudi Arabia, or will inexperience and hasty decisions destabilize Saudi Arabia. The writer, a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center, was Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.