Ex-White House Envoy: Saudi Crown Prince Saw Israel Normalization as Key Goal
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Former White House envoy Brett McGurk stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman considered normalization with Israel a key goal to be achieved within three years. This emerges as former President Donald Trump noted Israel's assistance to Saudi Arabia in its conflict with the Houthis. Reports suggest Israel has been sharing intelligence with Saudi Arabia via the U.S. to aid its defense and ensure maritime security.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman viewed Israel normalization as a goal within three years, according to Brett McGurk.
- Former President Donald Trump stated Israel has significantly aided Saudi Arabia in its war against Yemen's Houthis.
- Israel reportedly began sharing intelligence with Saudi Arabia via the United States in September.
- The intelligence sharing aims to bolster Saudi defense and secure maritime passage in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
Former White House envoy Brett McGurk revealed on Wednesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told him in 2021 that he viewed normalization with Israel as a primary objective he aimed to achieve within three years. McGurk, who served under the Biden administration, stated at a press conference that the opportunity should have been seized immediately.
This comes amid ongoing military conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen. Last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Israel had assisted Saudi Arabia in its war against the Houthis, suggesting that the prospect of the Kingdom joining the Abraham Accords was "perhaps more than ever." Trump indicated that Israel had provided significant aid to Saudi Arabia, though he did not specify the nature of the assistance. He affirmed that Saudi Arabia was receptive to support from both Israel and the United States.
Trump did not announce any official resumption of normalization talks or new agreements between Jerusalem and Riyadh. However, a report from Kan News on September 15, citing a regional diplomat, indicated that Israel had begun sharing intelligence with Saudi Arabia via the U.S. According to the report, Saudi Arabia requested U.S. assistance, which was then relayed to Israel. A foreign source familiar with the matter stated that U.S. representatives proposed a regional mechanism to aid Saudi Arabia during a meeting in Cairo. The intelligence, drawing on the IDF's experience with the Houthis, was primarily intended to ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
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