Leading Saudi columnist says it’s ‘highly likely’ peace with Israel is possible

Several prominent commentators in the Saudi press have reacted broadly positively in recent days to speculation about a possible peace deal with Israel, and to reports on Saturday that the United States may broker such a deal in return for “significant concessions” from Israel, including the dissolution of the current hardline coalition by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Virtually all Saudi media operates under direct control of the state, and it is likely that all opinion pieces have been pre-approved and are closely aligned with the views of the regime.

On Saturday, Faisal J. Abbas, lead editor of the English-language daily Arab News, wrote in a rare editorial on the subject that following the latest visit by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to Jeddah last week, “it is highly likely that a peace deal might be possible.” READ MORE