Saudi Arabia and US on Israel

[Almost Heaven]

A mega-deal in the making​

Trump is pushing for a "mega-deal" – a grand agreement to resolve several regional disputes and promote international cooperation. The Saudis are seeking a defense pact and plan to announce a $600 billion investment in the US. This would serve as the framework for the upcoming talks. The war in Gaza has become an obstacle to realizing this vision. While Trump views Hamas as the primary obstacle and seeks to end the conflict, he will not hesitate to proceed with the Saudi plans even without Israel's involvement if the war does not end soon.
Israel's strategic advantage
The Saudis, who supported the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, had been waiting for their own opening. Their condition was a diplomatic horizon for two-state negotiations. In talks with the Americans, they were willing to settle for an expanded Palestinian autonomy and were openly critical of the Palestinian Authority's corruption and inefficiency.

The drive for normalization was rooted in security. Israel had demonstrated its capabilities against Iran – the most tangible threat to Saudi Arabia. The 2015 nuclear agreement signed by the Obama administration and European countries with Iran convinced Riyadh that Israel was its only reliable partner.

The US's lack of response during Trump's first term to the 2019 Iranian-backed Houthi attack on Saudi oil facilities further aligned Riyadh with Jerusalem. Secret talks were held, including a visit by Netanyahu and then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to the planned Saudi city of Neom in November 2020, where they met directly with bin Salman.
In 2023, following the establishment of Netanyahu's current government, the Saudis sought assurance that Israel still backed the previous understandings and was ready for normalization. Israel responded affirmatively, and negotiations were set to conclude within months. The war, however, halted the process – perhaps intentionally.
The Saudi shift
The war placed Saudi Arabia in a delicate position due to intense Arab criticism over the toll on Gaza. The Saudis remained restrained for a long time, but in November, the crown prince signaled a shift. Bin Salman accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza – an unusually harsh term for him – and demanded an end to the war and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

During normalization talks, the Americans proposed building a civilian nuclear facility in Saudi Arabia that would be operated, managed and secured exclusively by Americans. But in light of Wright's announcement, it now appears the issue is advancing independently of Israel's position – a departure from past protocol.

Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia is also engaging with Iran to try to neutralize the threat from Tehran. It has publicly praised the opening of Iran-US negotiations in Oman and expressed hope for their success.

Saudi Arabia and US on Israel-bypassing track

The Saudi crown prince and the US president are expected to reach agreements on issues critical to Israel – including nuclear cooperation. According to

www.israelhayom.com

 

[Hol]

In 2023, following the establishment of Netanyahu's current government, the Saudis sought assurance that Israel still backed the previous understandings and was ready for normalization. Israel responded affirmatively, and negotiations were set to conclude within months. The war, however, halted the process – perhaps intentionally.

I recall that Anthony Blinken was bragging about how peaceful the ME had become under Biden. Ironically, it was about September 2023, weeks before Oct. 7th.

 

[Bethlehem57]

I recall that Anthony Blinken was bragging about how peaceful the ME had become under Biden. Ironically, it was about September 2023, weeks before Oct. 7th.

I’m so glad that he’s out of the picture!

 

[Margery]

The war in Gaza has become an obstacle to realizing this vision. While Trump views Hamas as the primary obstacle and seeks to end the conflict, he will not hesitate to proceed with the Saudi plans even without Israel's involvement if the war does not end soon.

That sounds alarming. Is he threatening Israel to get it done or else? I get that he's tired of Hamas, who isn't, but this sounds like pressure on Israel.

The Saudi shift
The war placed Saudi Arabia in a delicate position due to intense Arab criticism over the toll on Gaza. The Saudis remained restrained for a long time, but in November, the crown prince signaled a shift. Bin Salman accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza – an unusually harsh term for him – and demanded an end to the war and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

That sounds like another land for peace deal. Using Israel's territory and carving out another chunk to establish a Pali state. Looking at the above clip it looks like Israel might not have a choice.

And I wonder how that ties in with that Gaza Trump thing where Trump owns Gaza, removes the Gazan terrorist clans, and creates a resort and casino on the Med. If that is the price that Trump put to Netanyahu for helping deal with Iran ie bunker buster bombs- then Netanyahu may be forced to give Gaza away again, under another Republican president- instead of Bush Jr, this time it's Trump. Both friends of Israel. Both fond of putting pressure on Israel.

During normalization talks, the Americans proposed building a civilian nuclear facility in Saudi Arabia that would be operated, managed and secured exclusively by Americans. But in light of Wright's announcement, it now appears the issue is advancing independently of Israel's position – a departure from past protocol.

Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia is also engaging with Iran to try to neutralize the threat from Tehran. It has publicly praised the opening of Iran-US negotiations in Oman and expressed hope for their success.

And that sounds like another win for Trump- running a nuke facility (for what purpose???) in Saudi Arabia- who have enough oil to generate power so this "civilian" facility sounds like nukes for the Saudi's but owned and operated by the US. Is that like his plans for Gaza to turf out the troublesome terrorists and create Vegas on the Med?

I have no doubt the Saudis are pivoting back to the USA from reliance on Israel for their defence as this article makes quite clear, but it's troubling that their support for these talks is replacing what had been some private support between Saudi and Israel for attacks on Iran to eliminate the threats.

In short this looks like Israel is being sold down the river with or without their input. I can see this from Trump's pov, because he sees Israel as being an expensive problem for the US and he wants to offload that asap and remove the troops out of the Middle East while establishing a lasting peace.
Those are good goals but they don't fit the Biblical picture.

Zechariah comes to mind. Zech 12:3 that troublesome stone- all who burden themselves with it will be cut to pieces.

 

[Almost Heaven]

Agreed. You really have to read the entire article. There is much to unpack, but you have hit the salient points.

 

[KMendel]

When I consider the failures of the casinos/resorts Trump has run in the past, it makes me wonder why
anyone would put any faith in new ones in Gaza??????????? Especially Israel.

 

[Margery]

Agreed. You really have to read the entire article. There is much to unpack, but you have hit the salient points.

I did, it's a good article and to my point of view a bit alarming if we didn't know God will take care of Israel.

I've prayed for Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah from his first term in office, when our daughter then in her early teens went to Israel as part of her dance troupe to perform at the Feast of Tabernacles. One of the intifadah things broke out and I started praying for Bibi and Sarah then. Over the years off and on, but I'm still praying for their salvation and that of their family. He's not on my permanent nightly list of prayer but Israel certainly is. Yet I still pray for him personally several times each year.

I also pray that he is NOT the one who makes that horrific covenant with the AC that starts the Trib that some how some way he gets saved and goes up with us.

He loves the Bible, and the God of the Bible, he's said so, he just doesn't realize who his God IS!

When I consider the failures of the casinos/resorts Trump has run in the past, it makes me wonder why
anyone would put any faith in new ones in Gaza??????????? Especially Israel.

Kathy, at the rate things go in the Middle East I suspect that casino will be just another non starter, much like the way Trump and his son in law Jared Kushner's peace plan was- it came out to great fanfare in late January of 2020. Only thing was Covid started to really hit that day and the Arab leaders decided they'd really rather do the Abraham Accords and that stuck instead.

God has a way of dealing with those who carve up Israel and give it away or take it for themselves. Even if it turns out this was one of the things on the table in some back room deal, God will deal with that and I have no doubt something will suddenly come up out of the blue (like Covid did) to distract everyone away from carving up Israel and giving it away.