Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s appointment of a new information (media) minister hinted that the kingdom was getting closer to bilateral peace with Israel.
In early March a “new diplomatic era in the Middle East” was heralded as Saudi Arabi and Iran reportedly agreed to reconcile and normalize ties. As “game changing” as this piece of news is, what drew my attention even more however, was how this could play into the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabi.
A March 11th article from The Jerusalem Post regarding this noted Saudi Arabia’s ties with Israel as the “elephant in the room” and that Riyadh even “floated the prospect of ties with Israel in exchange for more US support for Riyadh.” (The Jerusalem Post)
Peace with Israel Around the Corner
The question on everyone’s mind now is how these recent events could possibly change the face of the region. The idea of “reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and the Syrian regime” was even brought up, but back to our focus on Israel. In the March 17th article by The Jerusalem Post, Could the Saudi-Iranian deal lead to peace with Israel?, they dove much deeper into the implications this agreement could have between Israel’s relationship with the Saudi kingdom stating that the agreement could be suggesting Saudi Arabi’s preparation towards normalization with Israel.
But exchanging pledges of mutual non-intervention with Iran can also suggest that Saudi Arabia is still preparing for possible normalization with Israel. Many Saudis are already moving in this direction. After all, if the Saudis sue for peace with Israel, the last thing they want is to have an antagonistic Iran instigating against them. (The Times of Israel)
They even noted Saudi Arabia’s recent appointment of Salman Aldosary, a new information minister who historically has been supportive of the Abraham Accords as well as Saudi peace with Israel which may be another factor lending credence to the view that Saudi Arabia is inching closer towards peace with Israel.
“Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s appointment of a new information (media) minister hinted that the kingdom was getting closer to bilateral peace with Israel. Salman Aldosary is known for his support of the Abraham Accords for peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain…Aldosary is a columnist and an influential voice on social media. His support of a Saudi First policy, including bilateral Saudi peace with Israel…” (The Jerusalem Post)
So on one hand we understand the possible implications that the Iran-Saudi deal may have in terms of further opening the door for a Israeli-Saudi normalization in the future but on the other hand we’re also aware of a “road block” to any substantive progress towards this reality which would be the two-state solution. Saudi Arabia has always conditioned normalization with Israel on the basis that they first rectify relations with the Palestinians which, to them, also includes the creation of a Palestinian state. This position is still true today which the article notes.
Shifting Away from the Palestinians
However, what we may now be seeing is a shift from that long-held position caused by the Palestinians themselves. The Jerusalem Post notes that despite the “unlimited support” the Saudis have given to the Palestinians, as of late they’ve only been met with ingratitude, notably due to the Abraham Accords.
“But Saudi unlimited support has only bought Palestinian ungratefulness and at times, downright hate. After the Abraham Accords were announced in August 2020, Palestinians in Gaza and Ramallah burned pictures, not only of the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain but also of Saudi King Salman and MBS.” (The Jerusalem Post)
To this, many “Saudi Arabian columnists, cartoonists and social media activists have been punching back” with Aldosary noting that due to their aggression against Saudi Arabia they have “liberated the kingdom from any ethical or political commitment to these parties in the future”. His statement essentially means that Saudi Arabia no longer has any commitments to the Palestinian people, further adding that the kingdom is ultimately concerned with national interests.
“Saudi Arabia, according to Aldosary, ‘makes its decisions based on its national interests and those of its people, first, second and 10th.’…In another one of his editorials, Aldosary wrote that Gulf countries should not be blamed for giving up on ‘a cause abandoned by its own people,’ arguing that ‘a Palestinian apology cannot fix relations… that have been broken for good.'” (The Jerusalem Post)
Although I’m in no position to confirm if this is now the official position of Saudi Arabia, in my opinion, Aldosary’s statements shouldn’t be regarded lightly especially since he’s the Saudi appointed information minister. Also, he’s not the only one holding this position. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) and others such as Saudi cartoonist Fahd Aljubari who, like Aldosary, fought back against the backlash towards Saudi Arabia, are amongst those attesting to a shifting “Saudi Arabian mood” regarding this issue with the Palestinians.
MBS also being noted as abandoning Saudi Arabia’s “dogmatic” policies and replacing them “with more realistic ones, prioritizing Saudi interests over anything else, including the Palestinian cause.” The article closes with a paragraph which to me summarizes this whole issue well: “In its relations with Palestinians, too, Saudi Arabia has nothing to show for its huge investment in money and diplomacy. Why Riyadh has not yet cut the Palestinians loose – like it did the Lebanese – is anybody’s guess. When Saudi abandons its outdated policy on the Palestinians, peace with Israel will logically be the next step.”
This all speaks volumes to where things may be heading regarding Israeli-Saudi relations in the future. Things are truly changing in the Middle East and previously held stances on long-held views may be shifting.
Why is any of this worth our attention? As I discussed in my 2 recent articles below regarding the Abraham Accords and normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia as well as in my article, What is the Prophetic Significance of the Abraham Accords?, I believe that the Accords may be contributing to the stage setting for the Daniel 9:27 covenant as well as for the conditions needed for the Ezekiel 38-39 invasion.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog Seeks to Revitalize Abraham Accords as Doubts Mount in Bahrain
- Netanyahu’s New Government Expects to Sign Peace Agreement with Saudi Arabia Within a Year in Effort to Expand Abraham Accords
Ultimately, as we see the set up for the future fulfillment of bible prophecies occurring before our eyes concerning events that occur in close proximity to the tribulation, it should tell us that our redemption draws ever so near.
Could the Saudi-Iranian deal lead to peace with Israel? – opinion
The Jerusalem Post: A joint trilateral Saudi-Iranian-Chinese statement surprised the world and prompted speculation that Riyadh might be switching sides, abandoning America and joining the anti-Western axis. Dragging its feet in welcoming Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to a United Nations conference further substantiated such a hypothesis.
But exchanging pledges of mutual non-intervention with Iran can also suggest that Saudi Arabia is still preparing for possible normalization with Israel. Many Saudis are already moving in this direction. After all, if the Saudis sue for peace with Israel, the last thing they want is to have an antagonistic Iran instigating against them.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s appointment of a new information (media) minister hinted that the kingdom was getting closer to bilateral peace with Israel. Salman Aldosary is known for his support of the Abraham Accords for peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, accords that the Biden administration has promised to expand but has yet to invest enough time and political capital to make peace happen.
Aldosary is a columnist and an influential voice on social media. His support of a Saudi First policy, including bilateral Saudi peace with Israel, has won him enemies from the anti-peace camp. Aldosary, however, has not been a lone voice. Last year, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, known by his acronym MBS, said he did not believe Israel was Riyadh’s enemy but a potential ally. Read More
Source
- Could the Saudi-Iranian deal lead to peace with Israel? – opinion (March 17th, 2023) – The Jerusalem Post
- New diplomatic era in Middle East in wake of Iran-Saudi rapprochement – analysis (March 12th, 2023) – The Jerusalem Post