Last week, Jason Greenblatt, President Trump's former envoy to the peace process, was invited to the Saudi embassy in Washington. "I went there to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day, proudly wore my kippah and was warmly welcomed and welcomed. This is such a dramatic change compared to the past, and it fills me with hope for the future," Greenblatt told Israel Hayom.
Without shaking hands: Biden meets with bin Salman in Saudi Arabia // Saudi TV
Greenblatt, now a private businessman who spends much of his time in Saudi Arabia, is probably the best person to analyze the historical process currently taking place behind the scenes, which could bring about a historic change in the Middle East.
Greenblatt himself took part in the beginning of this process, and even felt it firsthand on behalf of the previous administration in Washington in 2020-2017. As an observant Jew, he was forced to bring kosher food with him to the homeland of Islam, which at the time also had a problematic treatment of non-Israeli Jews.
"Then, before President Donald Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia in 2017, I had a very lonely Saturday night in Riyadh, with rice cakes and peanut butter that I brought from home, and some frozen macarons and kosher cheese that they brought me from a US military base in Saudi Arabia so I could have something to eat. I didn't wear the kippah on that visit either. In preparation for the visit, I remember that the mention of Israel's name made the Saudis uncomfortable, until the Foreign Ministry in Washington suggested that President Trump refrain from doing so. He, by the way, disagreed and mentioned Israel several times."
Netanyahu. Managing the process correctly, photo: Haim Goldberg/Flash 90
How is the kingdom's attitude toward Israel today?
"Today in Saudi Arabia itself, I walk the streets, restaurants and malls with the kippah, as do my family. So far there has been no negative reaction. There is an understanding (among the Saudis) that we are very similar in terms of our religious needs, demands and feelings, they respect that. There are many Shabbat Shalom wishes, and I have also received a large number of Happy New Year messages, in English and even some in Hebrew.
I would say they respect us even more than a lot of Europeans I'm in contact with. So the changes are dramatic, and I feel very optimistic and hopeful about them," Greenblatt shares some of his experiences.
But this is much more than an atmosphere or respect for the Jewish religion. Greenblatt, who wrote the book "In the Way of Abraham" about his years in the Trump administration, is still in contact with senior officials in the Saudi kingdom and is familiar with the mood there. He refuses to divulge secrets behind the scenes, and offers to stick to public statements. "Those who know don't speak, and those who speak don't know," he says. However, he sees with his own eyes that "Saudi Arabia is changing at a rapid pace."
"They are driven by the amazing vision of 2030 and are beginning to prepare beyond it. They realized that the world has changed dramatically in recent years and they have to adapt. Saudi Arabia is still a very religiously conservative country, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. But I do think—and the crown prince has said this publicly—that they are trying to move away from the extremism that existed many years ago, and bring it back to the proper way in which they see Islam as a religion.
Bin Salman and Biden. Recommends the US not to mediate, Photo: Reuters
"We have to look at Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states of today and understand that they are undergoing an incredible transformation. This change includes opening the peoples of the Gulf states to others, including Jews. They also understand how they must navigate a very complicated region, which includes Israel, while at the same time supporting the Palestinians while advancing their own plans. We need to welcome it warmly and help them through the process."
From what you know, how close are we to signing an agreement?
"What Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview with Fox News two weeks ago is very, very amazing. He said that every day we were getting closer, and he articulated what he wanted to do for the Palestinians – which is so different from what most people, including the Palestinian leadership, have always said. (But) I don't think it (bin Salman's lack of demand to immediately establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital) surprising.
"While they were very supportive of the Palestinian people, I believe they are frustrated with the Palestinian leadership. They need to put Saudi Arabia before anything else. So they will absolutely not abandon the Palestinians, but I think they have also realized that they can help the Palestinians in a way that cares first and foremost about their country, Saudi Arabia. To me, it's a very smart and pragmatic way of doing things."
Are they ready to receive direct flights from Israel in six months?
"Is all of Saudi Arabia willing to accept a million Israelis like the UAE? I think it will take time. It's a very big country. For decades there has been a certain kind of education given to the Saudis, about Israel and others, including Jews. Now there is a period of transformation, but apparently they are not yet ready to accept a million Israelis tomorrow. But in not a very long period of time it will work."
Netanyahu presents map of peace in the Middle East // Reuters
Based on his extensive experience in the region, both politically and business-wise, and on the basis of his deep familiarity with Israelis (Greenblatt studied in Israel in his youth), his main recommendation to us Israelis is to "respect Saudi norms."
He recommends, for example, not to repeat the provocation of the Israeli media, which during the World Cup in Qatar pushed microphones to people and asked them what they thought about Israel. "It's disrespectful. Such steps are counterproductive and actually move the process backwards. Don't jump on people and don't try to get them to respond to Israel. Their culture is very different. They are usually more shy and reserved, and less willing to talk publicly about how they feel."
Moreover, Greenblatt is surprising and says that not only the behavior of Israelis in the Arab Gulf states influences the progress of the process vis-à-vis the Saudis, but also internal events in Israel, first and foremost the "protests," which raise questions in the region about whether Israel is still as stable as it was. "The entire region wants to know that Israel is still the amazing, stable and wonderful country they knew, and that its society is cohesive.
This is one of the things that attracted the region to the process with Israel, including the Abraham Accords countries. All over the world we are watching what is happening in Israel, even beyond the demonstrations. The events that happened on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv could not have happened in Riyadh – and let's not pretend they don't pay attention to it. They do.
Sights that worry the palace. Last Yom Kippur at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, Photo: Gideon Markowitz
"Remember that everyone is following what is happening in Israel all the time. News reports that Israel is unstable, that one in four wants to leave the country, are uncomfortable and therefore cause some level of concern. So the prime minister, who according to my impression is managing the process correctly, needs to reassure them and convince them that Israel remains strong and a full, stable and reliable democracy, including its own army."
In other words, this is not just an internal Israeli Jewish event. Is this having regional implications?
"I believe so, yes. One may put aside the Yom Kippur event, but here too in the United States, think about all the articles and reports about the demonstrations over the past few months and the negative impact it had on Israel's reputation in the United States. The Arab countries watched them as well. I am not saying that these things will determine for Saudi Arabia or any other country whether to make peace with Israel or not.
"It's not high on their list, but it's neither an advantage nor a positive thing in the process."
As someone who was the peace envoy of the previous administration, do you have a recommendation for President Biden?
"The things that President Biden said in the meeting with Netanyahu were also spot on. The only mistake President Biden makes is constantly bringing the Palestinian issue into the equation. The Saudis will know how to pressure the Israelis about what they want to do with the Palestinians. I don't think the U.S. should put its finger on this. By demanding release to the Palestinians beyond what the Saudis want, he is jeopardizing the entire deal.
Frustrated with him. Mahmoud Abbas, photo: Reuters
"If I were working for the White House today, in the position I had then, working for President Biden, I would say that the best thing the U.S. can do — even if it's not realistic — is to encourage the crown prince and Netanyahu to speak directly without U.S. mediation. That could lead to something more positive than a situation where the U.S. is the mediator, or worse, that the U.S. is pressuring Israel to do things it wants for the Palestinians."
So what's your bet on reaching a settlement – will the process succeed?
"It's hard to predict the future, and I never gamble. But even if it doesn't happen immediately, and it takes time, we're definitely in a good place and moving forward on a good path, and we should welcome that."
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