Politics13:06 · 8h ago

Saudi-Israeli Normalization Falters Amid Regional Conflict and Political Stalemate

YnetCenter

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

Key points

01U.S. officials believe Iran may be shifting toward the West, signaling historic regional change.
02The Biden administration launched the IMEC trade corridor project linking the Gulf to Haifa, with Saudi investment.
03Israel has been excluded from the IMEC corridor amid frozen normalization talks due to the war.
04Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman proposed a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi management as part of normalization.
05Israel committed to a Palestinian state within 5-7 years as part of the Saudi normalization framework.
06Netanyahu rejected a security arrangement to protect the government during peace talks, blocking the deal.

In this story

People

OrganizationsBiden Administration, IDF, Yedioth Ahronoth

PlacesIsrael, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Persian Gulf, Haifa, Washington, Middle East

The story · English

A senior American official recently revealed to an Israeli counterpart that Iran might be shifting its stance, potentially signaling a historic change in the Middle East akin to a "perestroika" for Shiite fundamentalism. This surprising claim, suggesting Mojtaba Khamenei could become the region's equivalent of Mikhail Gorbachev, contrasts with Israel's intelligence assessments but reflects significant developments in Washington.

Meanwhile, a major regional infrastructure initiative called IMEC, aimed at connecting Asia and the Middle East through a network of trade corridors from the Persian Gulf to Haifa, was announced by the Biden administration in September 2023. Saudi Arabia pledged tens of billions of dollars to the project, which now includes advanced cyber, green hydrogen, automation, and AI infrastructure. However, Israel has been sidelined from this "peace corridor," especially as the ongoing war has frozen normalization talks.

Behind the scenes, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed readiness for normalization with Israel even during the conflict. In mid-2024 discussions with the Biden administration, a framework emerged involving a hostage exchange in Gaza, a ceasefire, and Israeli control over parts of Gaza, with Saudi forces potentially managing the area. The plan envisioned Saudi Arabia as a peace broker leading to normalization between Riyadh and Jerusalem, contingent on Israel committing to a viable path toward a Palestinian state within five to seven years.

The Saudis assured that delays in establishing the Palestinian state would not jeopardize the agreement, placing blame on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas if progress stalled. The U.S. intended to support Saudi initiatives requiring Senate approval, but Israeli political opposition complicated matters. Prime Minister Netanyahu refused a security arrangement proposed by opposition leader Yair Lapid to protect the government during the peace process, contributing to the failure of the normalization deal.

This account, detailed in a recent "Yedioth Ahronoth" report, highlights how regional ambitions for a new Middle East are advancing without Israel, largely due to internal Israeli political dynamics and the ongoing conflict.

Read the original at Ynet