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Don't Expect a Saudi-Israel Deal Soon, or Maybe Ever

(Washington Post) Jennifer Rubin - Last week, a breathless report in the Wall Street Journal suggested that the "U.S. and Saudi Arabia have agreed on the broad contours of a deal for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel in exchange for concessions to the Palestinians, U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear help." Umm, not really. Not even close. If Saudis expect to get a NATO-like partnership with the U.S. (pledging to go to war if the Saudis are attacked), approval for a civilian nuclear program, and even more U.S. high-tech weaponry, they might find out there is little appetite for any of that on either side of the congressional aisle. Next to China, Saudi Arabia holds the distinction as the country that generates the most bipartisan animosity because of the kingdom's atrocious human rights record and oil price gamesmanship. Senate ratification of a deal would make the Iran nuclear agreement battle look like a walk in the park. And with whom should the U.S, Israel and the Saudis deal on the Palestinian side? The corrupt, aging and ineffectual Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has seemingly given up on his role in anti-terror cooperation, and he certainly can't speak for Hamas.
2023-08-14 00:00:00
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