2023-09-18 16:47:29
Israeli and American officials on Monday denied reports that talks aimed at reaching a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel had ended. An article published Saturday, on the information site elaphclaims that Riyadh withdrew from normalization talks due to the “extremist” government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which refused to make concessions to the Palestinians.
It is not in the nature of Othman Al Omeir, founder and publishing director of the Elaph information site, to spread fake news. Close to Saudi power circles, the man is known for his “liberal” and “flexible” positions vis-à-vis Israel.
This Saturday, Al Omeir authorizes the publication of an article which will go around the world to the point of causing the American State Department to react. The timing is perfect for additional pressure on Netanyahu, on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly.
The article in question reports that Saudi Arabia has decided to end discussions with the United States regarding the normalization of relations with Israel. And that this decision was communicated to the American administration by an official in the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
«Netanyahu’s opposition to any concessions to the Palestinians, as well as his acceptance of the demands of the right wing represented by the party Etamar Ben Gvir and the Minister of National Security, as well as the party Betzalel Smotrich and the Minister of Finance, destroyed any possibility of rapprochement with the Palestinians and, therefore, with the Saudis» states the Elaph article.
The US sources said Saudi Arabia sought to include the Palestinians in the discussions in an intelligent manner, in order to make its own decision on a deal with the Israelis, including setting the date and demarcating their independent borders. without external interference, without being dictated by Israel, unlike what was attempted in the Abraham Accords, which failed to obtain an agreement with the Palestinians.
The article also mentions that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, close to Netanyahu and former ambassador to Washington, allegedly leaked false information to an American newspaper favorable to the American right and owned by extremist Jewish Republicans, describing meetings secret between Riyadh and the Israeli Prime Minister.
The Saudi decision would also be motivated by the deterioration of the internal situation in Israel. As such, Elpah’s article underlines that early elections seem to be the most likely solution to emerge from the crisis, especially since the polls clearly indicate that the opposition, led by the party of Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, is ahead in the upcoming elections.
American and Israeli denial
Elaph’s report is false, a senior US official said, echoing a similar denial from an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The latter was speaking on board a plane carrying the Prime Minister to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Meanwhile, the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs said:The United States remains committed to fostering Israel’s regional integration, including through active diplomacy aimed at normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Discussions are ongoing, and we look forward to further conversations with both parties»
The United States remains committed to furthering Israel’s regional integration, including through active diplomacy aimed at Israel-Saudi normalization. Talks are ongoing, and we look forward to further conversations with both parties.
— U.S. State Dept – Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) September 18, 2023
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, previously said that resolving Palestinian issues was crucial to any normalization deal with Israel.
BREAKING: Saudi Arabia has informed the Biden administration of its decision to halt all talks of normalizing ties with Israel on Sunday, the Arab news outlet Elaph cited an Israeli official in the Prime Minister’s Office as saying.
Read more >>https://t.co/1CgonRtSVI
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) September 17, 2023
The previous month, Netanyahu had indicated he was willing to make gestures toward the Palestinians if a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia depended on it, and suggested he would not allow his coalition members to block such an agreement.
However, some partners in Netanyahu’s far-right coalition have ruled out any compromise with the Palestinians, saying they would not make any concessions.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has increased its contacts with the Palestinians, including co-hosting an event at the United Nations General Assembly focused on reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Neither Israel nor the Palestinians were invited to the event, which aims to bring together important global players to “reinvigorate” the peace process.
Two weeks ago, Riyadh hosted a delegation from the Palestinian Authority to discuss how to advance the Palestinian cause through a normalization agreement. Saudi leaders assured the Palestinian delegation that Riyadh “would not abandon” the Palestinian cause, even while discussing normalization of ties with Israel. They agreed to take steps that would not immediately lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu is due to meet US President Joe Biden in New York this week at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. The Saudi normalization process, as well as concerns over Iran, are central to their agenda, Netanyahu said in comments before leaving Israel late Sunday.
Given the enmity that persists between the two men, it is unlikely that they will reach common ground.
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