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Saudi Media Softens Tone on Normalization with Israel
(Washington Post) Sarah Dadouch - While Saudi Arabia has yet to comment officially on normalizing relations with Israel, last month the kingdom's English-language Arab News published an editorial welcoming the UAE's new ties with Israel. Last week, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the longest-serving Saudi ambassador to Washington, was also sharply critical of Palestinian leaders in an interview with Al-Arabiya. Elham Fakhro, a senior gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the Saudi media is sending a clear signal about the country's position on normalization with Israel. "Overwhelmingly, the tone of the media was celebratory of the agreement." He added that the influential imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque has spoken recently about prophet Muhammad's friendly relations with Jews. "There is a concerted policy from the Saudi state to transform local perceptions of both Judaism and the State of Israel, possibly to pave the way for a future agreement," Fakhro said.