WASHINGTON: Israel and Saudi Arabia are moving towards the outline of a historic US-brokered deal to normalize relations after decades of hostility, the White House said on Friday.
President Joe Biden aims to reshape the Middle East and achieve a diplomatic win in an election year. His goal is to gain Saudi Arabia’s recognition of the Jewish state, even though Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Islam’s two most sacred sites.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby informed reporters, “All parties have discussed a fundamental outline for what we might pursue.” He added, “However, in any intricate agreement, as this one is bound to be, everyone will need to take action and make compromises.
The United States has encouraged its Middle East allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, to establish diplomatic ties, joining other nations like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco in similar agreements.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both indicated that the two countries are progressing towards normalization. Saudi Arabia has sought security assurances, including the possibility of a treaty with the United States, in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel.
However, the Palestinian perspective emphasizes their importance in any agreement, asserting that a two-state solution is crucial for achieving peace in the Middle East.