Confidence in possible normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia

There is confidence that normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia will finally be achieved. The Israeli state is counting on the efforts of the United States, an ally of both nations, to finally bring the Saudi kingdom diplomatically closer to the Hebrew nation.  

Israel has some optimism about the US administration's work along these lines after recent political moves. Following a meeting on 7 May in Riyadh between the National Security Advisors of the United States, Saudi Arabia, India and the United Arab Emirates, and a subsequent meeting in Jerusalem between senior US and Israeli officials, the Israeli government is cautiously optimistic about rapprochement with the Kingdom.  

The four countries raised at the aforementioned conclave the project to link the Middle East with India through a rail network, a plan that is related to Washington's efforts to counter China's strong commercial influence, especially through its New Silk Road initiative, as reported by Axios.  

The alliance between the United States, the Emirates, India and Israel dates back to 2021 and works towards cooperation between these countries in various sectors such as energy, water, transport and food. This work also fosters closer political ties.  

This activity demonstrates the relevance of the Middle East for the United States. In the past, the American giant turned its attention towards the Pacific to counteract the spread of Chinese power, which caused a rift with Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, who criticised the US giant for failing to cooperate in depth with the nations of the region. However, Joe Biden's administration is once again demonstrating a greater presence in the region as China has also extended its tentacles in the Middle East region. This is yet another episode in the struggle between the two countries to be the world's hegemonic great power.  

The Riyadh meeting in May focused on promoting a regional framework for rail interconnection, of which Israel is also interested in being a part. And while Israel was not invited to Riyadh, the Biden administration keeps the Israeli executive abreast of developments in this regard. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan participated in this very meeting with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts to promote regional integration and deepen diplomatic ties.  

Axios also reported that Ronen Levy, director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, arrived in Washington for talks with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and White House senior energy adviser Amos Hochstein to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.  

It is precisely the Accords of Abraham that are the main drivers of the regional rapprochement movement between Israel and several Arab countries. Donald Trump's administration in the United States brought about the pact between Israel and Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco to establish diplomatic ties, with the aim of developing the region and pacifying the area, in the face of common enemies that are destabilising elements, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran.  

Contacts at the highest level between the US and Israeli governments are constant, with the participation even of Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, and may finally lead to Israel's definitive diplomatic rapprochement with Saudi Arabia.  

Before visiting Riyadh, Jake Sullivan himself spoke to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stating that 'ultimately, reaching full normalisation is a declared national security interest of the United States'.

Moreover, this potential diplomatic achievement could be of great benefit to the Israeli government, as the Netanyahu administration is suffering considerable political instability due to the ongoing political clashes that are radicalising the nation. Moreover, Israel is always looking for support to confront the great regional enemy, which is Iran. "For Netanyahu, the issue of Saudi Arabia is now more important than anything else in his foreign policy, and perhaps also in his domestic policy. He knows that Israel cannot stop Iran on its own," an informed source told Al-Monitor.