Israel Seeks Saudi Role in Yemen Conflict, Prince Refuses
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to gain Saudi Arabia's approval for Israeli intervention in Yemen against Houthi rebels, using U.S. intermediaries. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly rejected the idea, fearing negative public reaction. The U.S. and the late Senator Lindsey Graham had been pushing for Israeli-Saudi normalization. Meanwhile, Houthi advances in Yemen have been met with a counter-offensive, and recent Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia have resulted in casualties, prompting condolences from Netanyahu.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi approval for Israeli intervention against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has rejected Israeli assistance, citing public opinion concerns.
- The U.S. and the late Senator Lindsey Graham had been promoting Israeli-Saudi normalization.
- Houthi advances in Yemen have been countered by a Saudi-backed offensive.
- Recent Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia have caused significant casualties.
- Netanyahu offered condolences to Saudi Arabia following a deadly Houthi missile strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Saudi Arabia's permission to intervene in the conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels, utilizing American intermediaries. The initiative aims to foster cooperation with Saudi Arabia, advance relations, and lay the groundwork for a future normalization agreement, according to sources cited by "Haaretz." However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reportedly uninterested in Israeli assistance against the Houthis. A diplomatic source explained that the Crown Prince believes cooperation with Israel could negatively impact public opinion within the kingdom, effectively vetoing any Israeli military involvement in Yemen.
Recent months have seen U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly pushing for the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and for the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords. The late Senator Lindsey Graham, a close associate of Trump and Netanyahu, also reportedly worked on making this normalization a cornerstone of post-war Middle East political arrangements in his final weeks.
Sources suggest that the prospect of a Saudi agreement, which seemed imminent in the fall of 2023, influenced Netanyahu's cautious approach towards Hamas in the weeks preceding the October 7th attack. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia's official stance remains that normalization is contingent on significant progress toward establishing a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, the situation in Yemen is escalating. In early September, Houthis advanced along the Red Sea coast, capturing the strategic city of Mocha and several islands, thereby gaining control of the Yemeni side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial global shipping route. Following this, Yemeni government forces, with support from Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, launched a counter-offensive and recaptured Mocha.
In recent days, Houthis have launched multiple attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh's international airport. On Saturday, October 10th, a ballistic missile attack resulted in at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries. A subsequent attack on Monday killed one person and injured 11. Following the Saturday attack, Netanyahu expressed condolences to Saudi Arabia, condemning the "terrorist act" and wishing recovery to the injured, while emphasizing Israel's hope for a strong Middle East united against threats and focused on security and prosperity.
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