Saudi Arabia's Refusal to Allow Israeli Rescue Plane Landing Fuels De-legitimization Narrative

Saudi Arabia's refusal to permit an Israeli rescue plane to land is more than a symbolic issue, according to political correspondent and commentator Tamir Morag. He argues that countries seeking Israeli assistance covertly while publicly distancing themselves from Israel strengthen the narrative that Israel is a pariah state. This, Morag contends, aids de-legitimization movements like BDS and even challenges Israel's very existence.

Morag suggests that some within Israel's political echelon believe that as long as security and political benefits are obtained behind the scenes, external symbols of cooperation can be overlooked, and Saudi hypocrisy can be tolerated. He notes that Saudi Arabia is currently seeking quiet military aid from Israel against the Houthis.

However, Morag asserts that when Israel allows itself to be treated as an outcast, exploited in private but shunned in public, it actively cultivates a global public opinion that de-legitimizes the nation. He points out that Israel engages in similar relationships with other countries, yielding varying immediate benefits.

Morag concludes that it is time to incorporate a long-term strategic consideration into these calculations. He emphasizes that Israel is not a leper and Jews are not impure, and this narrative must not be allowed to take root. He states that those who seek Israeli help in the shadows must be prepared to walk hand-in-hand with Israel in the light of day.