Trump Says Israel Aided Saudi Arabia Against Houthis, Sees Abraham Accords Revival

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that Israel provided assistance to Saudi Arabia during its confrontations with the Houthis in Yemen, without offering specific details. Responding to a question about the Abraham Accords, Trump expressed his belief that they are "back on the table, perhaps more than ever before." He added that Saudi Arabia is "very happy to receive support from Israel and our support too." Trump affirmed that Israel has "helped Saudi Arabia a lot" in its conflict with the Houthis.

Reports have suggested that Israeli assistance to Saudi Arabia has primarily focused on intelligence regarding targets in Yemen. It was also claimed that Riyadh might seek a defense system similar to those in Israel, with the consideration of this request potentially linked to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. However, officials familiar with the matter indicated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman does not trust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, making progress on normalization difficult while Netanyahu remains in power, according to the Israeli website Walla.

The report also suggested that Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations are awaiting the Israeli Knesset elections, hoping for political changes. Riyadh reportedly maintains its condition for normalization: the initiation of a serious political process that ultimately leads to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. Without this, Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel.

An Israeli report cited two sources, one diplomatic and one familiar with the details, stating that Netanyahu is seeking U.S. mediation to persuade Saudi Arabia to allow Israeli intervention in the confrontation with the Houthis. This potential cooperation against the Houthis is seen by Tel Aviv as a pathway to developing relations and eventual normalization with Riyadh. However, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly opposes any Israeli military intervention in Yemen.

The diplomatic source further stated that bin Salman is not interested in Israeli assistance against the Houthis, as cooperation with Israel would not be viewed favorably by the Saudi and Islamic public opinion. The source emphasized that Israeli military intervention in Yemen is "off the table" due to the Saudi Crown Prince's rejection. The Abraham Accords were established in 2020 during Trump's first term, leading several Arab nations, including the UAE and Bahrain, to normalize relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia was also in discussions with the U.S. regarding normalization at that time but reportedly halted progress after the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023.