Recent reports and statements about possible normalization with Saudi Arabia have sparked a heated debate within the Arab kingdom in recent days. Some voices believe it is doubtful whether peace with Israel can be achieved, while others see it as an exceptional opportunity – pinning their hopes on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's decision.
Without shaking hands: Biden meets with bin Salman in Saudi Arabia | Saudi TV
Commentator Fahd al-Atawi, a former pilot in the Saudi Air Force, made it clear that if Riyadh wanted to establish relations with Israel, it would inform the public. He explained that over the years, Saudi Arabia paid "trillions of dollars" to the Palestinians and supported them internationally, but received nothing in return from most of them, except curses, insults and ingratitude."
"The Palestinian leaders did not want peace but traded it"
"All the Palestinian leaders – from Arafat to Abu Mazen and Ismail Haniyeh – did not want peace but traded it," he stressed. In this context, he noted that Saudi interests take precedence over other interests, and Saudi demands must first be implemented by Israel and the sponsor of the peace agreement (the United States) if it is achieved. "This will be a conditional agreement and not a 'peace on paper' agreement," he stressed, noting that "the Saudis must stand behind their leadership."
Another commentator, Abd Al-Hamid Al-Hakim, who served in a research position in Jeddah, noted that "peace with Saudi Arabia is unlike any other country, since it has the strongest soft power."
"The understanding of the crown prince is embodied, who is working to use this for political gains for all the peoples of the region." Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Photo: Reuters
According to him, Saudi Arabia's status as a country where two of Islam's holy sites are located and prayers are carried towards Mecca is of great importance, since it can also create peace between the Israeli citizen and the Palestinians and the region. "This embodies the understanding of the crown prince (Mohammed bin Salman) who is working to use this for political gains for all the peoples of the region," he wrote.
"The entire peace initiative with the state of aggression has failed"
On the other hand, Abdullah Al-Makushi, one of the more conservative voices in Saudi Arabia, believes that "all peace initiatives with the state of aggression [Israel] have failed, and only it has benefited from them, because it does not respect any agreements supported by the West in general and by the United States in particular. Anyone who thinks that normalization with this enemy, which does not respect treaties and treaties, will achieve what was not achieved in the past – is deceiving himself or deceiving us."
Can the US be trusted? Bin Salman and Biden, Photo: Reuters
The commentator, who serves as a senior official in the Saudi education system, also wondered, "The question is whether the United States can be trusted, whatever its commitments."
At the same time, Saudi commentator Khaled Al-Dakhil noted following the New York Times reports that "Israeli and American newspapers are busy normalizing relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv. The administration is negotiating with the Saudis about this. The Israeli president, in a joint session with Congress, said that they were praying in Israel to achieve this normalization, indicating the danger of the event. The Saudis set four conditions to ensure a political price worth the danger. The area is waiting."
The New York Times reported this morning that the Saudi royal family is demanding that in the event of normalization, Israel take a significant step toward the Palestinians. This condition joins other Saudi demands from the United States, which were previously announced, such as assistance in establishing a civilian nuclear project, security guarantees, and advanced weapons.
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