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Is a U.S.-Saudi-Israel Deal Really in the Works?

(JNS) Jonathan S. Tobin - I remain skeptical about the U.S. brokering a deal normalizing relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh. There are too many reasons why both the Biden administration and the Saudis are unlikely to sign off on any such agreement. Moreover, the price that Israel is going to be asked to pay for the privilege of exchanging ambassadors with the Saudis is not something Netanyahu ought to agree to. Washington has never wanted to validate the Saudis' desire for a response to Iran's quest for a nuclear weapon with its own project. And most of Biden's Democratic Party despises the Saudis as a reactionary regime. The idea that concessions to the Palestinians are the sticking point for the Saudis is nonsense. They, like other Arab governments, are tired of having their interests held hostage to an intransigent Palestinian leadership that has no interest in peace with Israel under any circumstances. The optimism about a deal for which the Saudis have no real enthusiasm and whose terms are unlikely to be acceptable to Biden or Netanyahu seems unwarranted. If and when the Saudis are ready to upgrade relations with Israel, it shouldn't come at a price that will undermine Israel or strengthen Palestinians who have no interest at all in peace.
2023-08-03 00:00:00
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