Monday, February 5, 2024

How Israel-Saudi normalization could go down, if it happens

Since the Abraham Accords were signed in Washington by Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and later by Sudan and Morocco, talk has run wild about a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

But, though the Israeli prime minister at the helm remains the same the people that close normalization deals have slightly shifted, and so have some tensions between them.

Though there is no official talk of a deal, here is an explanation of why, in terms of the Israeli team, it might work better in 2024 than it did in 2020, sources have told The Jerusalem Post.


Strategic Affairs Minister (and long-time personal confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) Ron Dermer is publicly running the US track of the negotiations, which, if they get to the point of documents and wording, will continue to lead that side of things.

There are few Israelis who can match Dermer’s familiarity with the complexities of American politics and the ability to rally support in Washington, while also being trusted by Netanyahu.

The Mossad maintains respect 

On the flip side, Mossad Director David Barnea played a key role in maintaining the respect for and the desire and vision for a deal, both in Riyadh and in Washington.

Barnea has, numerous times, “held the hand” of foreign officials to keep the larger reasons to sign a deal in sight: common national interests, especially following provocative moves and statements by some coalition members, in Israel’s most far-right government. READ MORE