NEW YORK – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism on Wednesday about the possibility of a groundbreaking peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia during his meeting with US President Joe Biden in New York.
Netanyahu stated, “I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.” He added that such an accord could significantly contribute to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and fostering reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state. Furthermore, Netanyahu emphasized the potential for advancing genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinians through such an initiative.
This statement came as Netanyahu and Biden convened for their first meeting since the Israeli Prime Minister’s reelection in December. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, aimed to alleviate months of tension between the two leaders. Biden had previously refrained from extending an invitation to Netanyahu to visit the White House.
The leaders commenced their meeting with a handshake, set against a backdrop of US and Israeli flags. Biden indicated his intention to address “hard issues” with Netanyahu, including the preservation of democratic values, particularly in light of controversial judicial reforms undertaken by the Israeli government.
Additionally, the agenda encompassed discussions on an ambitious plan to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a move that would mark a significant diplomatic milestone in the region. The United States has been actively encouraging Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish normalized ties, building on similar agreements known as the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
While Saudi Arabia has historically been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the need for the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalizing relations with Israel, recent geopolitical shifts have prompted Washington to intensify its efforts to broker a normalization deal between the two nations.
In the words of the influential former Saudi Ambassador to the US, Bandar bin Sultan, “The Palestinian cause is a just cause, but its advocates are failures. And the Israeli cause is unjust, but its advocates have proven to be successful.” This sentiment underscores the evolving dynamics in the Middle East, where the prospect of unexpected alliances and agreements continues to reshape the regional landscape.
By AFP
