What will it take for Israel, Saudi Arabia to normalize ties? - analysis

Integration of the Middle East as a group of countries in a region is important, including sovereign states with a “shared and common interest,” Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud recently told the Jewish Insider news site. “Integration means our people collaborate, our businesses collaborate, and our youth thrive.”

Her comments were made at the Aspen Ideas Festival. On the one hand, although she didn’t mention Israel, this can serve as an example of how mainstream the discussion of Israel-Saudi ties has become, appearing to be in a constant spotlight these days. As such, normalization has been put on a pedestal, and every small incident in Israel, or the Gulf or the US is then tied to it.

This focus can create a potentially problematic linkage, however, because it requires a response on every occasion to see whether the latest news may reduce or improve the chances for normalization. It also has the unintended consequence of sometimes appearing to strain ties or create illusions of tensions. READ MORE