The Saudis have sent a message to Israel that there will be “major implications in all fields” if it annexes any part of the West Bank, Channel 12 reports. They did not delineate what steps they might take, but they could declare the prospect of Saudi-Israeli normalization dead or once again close their airspace to Israeli flights, which they opened in 2022, the TV report says.
Annexation could also harm the under-the-radar security and trade relations between the two countries. The report also says annexation risks endangering the Abraham Accords. People around US President Donald Trump are indicating that they do not wish to see annexation, the report adds. “It’s the last thing they need,” especially after Israel’s September 9 strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, the report says.
Saudi officials will discuss how the war in Gaza can be brought to an end, and the scenarios for the “day after” in Gaza, with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week, along with leaders from the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey, according to the outlet.
Trump will also hold a separate session with Gulf leaders — from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait — who want to hear his stance on the Qatar strike. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting today to discuss possible responses to Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state this week. Potential responses include changing the classification of parts of the West Bank’s Area A to Area B, meaning from Palestinian security and civil control to Israeli security control and Palestinian civil control, and parts of Area B to become Area C, meaning under Israeli civil and security control. (Read More)
