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Saudi Arabia Offers Its Price to Normalize Relations with Israel

(New York Times) Michael Crowley - Saudi Arabia is seeking security guarantees from the U.S., help with developing a civilian nuclear program, and fewer restrictions on U.S. arms sales as its price for normalizing relations with Israel, people familiar with the exchanges say. If sealed, the deal could set up a major political realignment of the Middle East. Riyadh's request offers President Biden the chance to broker a dramatic agreement that would reshape Israel's relationship with the most powerful Arab state. However, such an agreement would likely encounter firm resistance in Congress, where many Democrats have recently pressed to downgrade relations with the Saudi kingdom. "Our relationship with Saudi Arabia...should not run through Israel," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). Saudi researcher Abdulaziz Alghashian noted, "The Saudi ruling elite do not want Biden to be the American president to take credit for Saudi-Israeli normalization, but they don't mind Biden taking the blame for its absence." Still, the fact that discussions are happening at all highlights the way Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman has emerged as more of a pragmatist than an ideologue.
2023-03-13 00:00:00
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