In a recent press conference, United States President Joe Biden made a notable admission regarding the October 7th incursion by Hamas into Israel. He suggested that this act may have effectively thwarted a potential rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
During a fundraiser event in Washington, President Biden articulated, “One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel … they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis.” He further elaborated, “Guess what? The Saudis wanted to acknowledge Israel.” The implications of such an agreement would have ramifications for regional dynamics, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue, as it would have positioned them at a significant disadvantage.
These statements, which have been widely reported in international media, substantiate suspicions in Washington that the Hamas attack on October 7th was not a random occurrence but a meticulously planned operation. Its sole objective was to obstruct Saudi Arabia from formalizing diplomatic recognition of Israel.
Curiously, President Biden did not broach the subject of forging diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia in his address to the nation on Friday. Instead, he highlighted a distinct international initiative: the “India-Middle East-Europe rail corridor.” This ambitious project, introduced at the recent summit of the world’s major economies, is envisioned to engender more stable markets, heightened employment opportunities, and, notably, a reduction in societal discontent and international conflicts when countries are interconnected.
