Challenges Persist as US and Saudi Arabia Seek Common Ground on Israel Recognition
The White House has said that the United States and Saudi Arabia are still far from an agreement under which Riyadh would recognize Israel. The announcement came after a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including the war in Yemen, the Iranian nuclear program, and the US-Saudi relationship. However, they were unable to reach an agreement on Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel.
The Biden administration has been working to persuade Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel as part of its broader effort to normalize relations between Arab countries and Israel. However, Saudi Arabia has so far resisted these efforts, citing its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.
The White House said that the two sides had a “productive” meeting and that they would continue to work together to address common challenges. However, it acknowledged that there was still “a lot of work to do” on the issue of Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel.
The announcement is a setback for the Biden administration, which had hoped to make progress on the issue during Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia. However, it is not a surprise, given Saudi Arabia’s long-standing position on the Palestinian issue.
It remains to be seen whether the two sides will be able to reach an agreement in the future. However, the Biden administration is likely to continue to press Saudi Arabia on the issue, as it sees it as an important step towards improving relations between the two countries.
Here are some of the reasons why Saudi Arabia is hesitant to recognize Israel:
Saudi Arabia has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. The kingdom sees Israel as an occupying force in Palestinian territories and has called for a two-state solution to the conflict.
Saudi Arabia is concerned about the impact of normalization with Israel on its relations with other Arab countries. Many Arab countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, have already recognized Israel, but they have done so in exchange for peace agreements. Saudi Arabia is worried that if it recognizes Israel without a peace agreement, it will alienate other Arab countries.
Saudi Arabia is concerned about the domestic political backlash that could result from recognizing Israel. There is a lot of anti-Israel sentiment in Saudi Arabia, and the government is worried that recognizing Israel could lead to protests and unrest.
It is possible that Saudi Arabia will eventually recognize Israel, but it is likely to be a slow and gradual process. The kingdom will need to be convinced that the benefits of normalization outweigh the risks. It will also need to see progress on the Palestinian issue.
In the meantime, the Biden administration is likely to continue to press Saudi Arabia on the issue. The administration sees it as an important step towards improving relations between the two countries and towards building a more stable Middle East.