1LoverofGod
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The Saudis have made it clear that a normalization deal won’t happen so long as the current government is in power.
A defense pact brokered with the Biden administration really isn't in Israel's best interest. Photo by Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are eager to have a Saudi-Israeli peace deal signed before each country holds elections. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shares this vision.
But the current government won’t get a ceremony on the White House lawn. Riyadh has already made it clear that this won’t happen as long as Netanyahu’s coalition is in power. Or to put it less diplomatically, Saudi Arabia will not be a prospective candidate for peace so long as politicians like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are in the Israeli cabinet.
Netanyahu has empowered Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to talk about this issue in media interviews. This gave the impression that Dermer was counting his chickens before they hatched. In fact, even before there were any eggs to begin with.
In a marketing move aimed at cultivating optimism in Israel,
Netanyahu’s inner circle has been saying that, in return for the American arms and capabilities given to Saudi Arabia under such a deal, Israel would consider asking for a defense treaty with the US. But for the time being, this is just talk; nothing more than political campaigning aimed at hiding the fact that Netanyahu is walking back his objection to Saudi Arabia having a nuclear reactor on its soil.
Israel has always been the bride-in-waiting, with the groom—a much-coveted defense pact—never showing up. To save face, the bride has always claimed that she does not seek such a deal. The proof that Israel does in fact want such a deal is found in a much-forgotten episode: David Ben-Gurion sought to have Israel join NATO, but was rebuffed. He even considered sending IDF troops to fight in the Korean War in the 1950s.
After the Six-Day War, Richard Nixon’s confidant Leonard Garment arrived in Israel. Then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan told him in Hebrew (with Abba Eben translating to English) that Israel only sought to obtain US weapon systems so it could defend itself on its own. “We don’t want a single US soldier to shed blood for our defense,” Dayan said, knowing there was zero chance of such a defense treaty passing the Senate in light of the ongoing upheaval over the Vietnam War.
A defense pact that would shore up Israel’s deterrence and stature abroad will not be finalized this time around either. Dermer is trying to sell goods that are not in his possession, because Israel cannot meet the minimum demands set by the US for a Saudi normalization pact. These include an Israeli commitment to forgoing settlement construction beyond four blocs, effectively abandoning Smotrich’s expansionist vision, along with an Israeli commitment not to annex Area C of Judea and Samaria.
The US will also insist that Israel grant benefits to the Palestinians and restrain the IDF’s conduct in counterterrorism raids.
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www.israeltoday.co.il
A defense pact brokered with the Biden administration really isn't in Israel's best interest. Photo by Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are eager to have a Saudi-Israeli peace deal signed before each country holds elections. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shares this vision.
But the current government won’t get a ceremony on the White House lawn. Riyadh has already made it clear that this won’t happen as long as Netanyahu’s coalition is in power. Or to put it less diplomatically, Saudi Arabia will not be a prospective candidate for peace so long as politicians like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are in the Israeli cabinet.
Netanyahu has empowered Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to talk about this issue in media interviews. This gave the impression that Dermer was counting his chickens before they hatched. In fact, even before there were any eggs to begin with.
In a marketing move aimed at cultivating optimism in Israel,
Netanyahu’s inner circle has been saying that, in return for the American arms and capabilities given to Saudi Arabia under such a deal, Israel would consider asking for a defense treaty with the US. But for the time being, this is just talk; nothing more than political campaigning aimed at hiding the fact that Netanyahu is walking back his objection to Saudi Arabia having a nuclear reactor on its soil.
Israel has always been the bride-in-waiting, with the groom—a much-coveted defense pact—never showing up. To save face, the bride has always claimed that she does not seek such a deal. The proof that Israel does in fact want such a deal is found in a much-forgotten episode: David Ben-Gurion sought to have Israel join NATO, but was rebuffed. He even considered sending IDF troops to fight in the Korean War in the 1950s.
After the Six-Day War, Richard Nixon’s confidant Leonard Garment arrived in Israel. Then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan told him in Hebrew (with Abba Eben translating to English) that Israel only sought to obtain US weapon systems so it could defend itself on its own. “We don’t want a single US soldier to shed blood for our defense,” Dayan said, knowing there was zero chance of such a defense treaty passing the Senate in light of the ongoing upheaval over the Vietnam War.
A defense pact that would shore up Israel’s deterrence and stature abroad will not be finalized this time around either. Dermer is trying to sell goods that are not in his possession, because Israel cannot meet the minimum demands set by the US for a Saudi normalization pact. These include an Israeli commitment to forgoing settlement construction beyond four blocs, effectively abandoning Smotrich’s expansionist vision, along with an Israeli commitment not to annex Area C of Judea and Samaria.
The US will also insist that Israel grant benefits to the Palestinians and restrain the IDF’s conduct in counterterrorism raids.
More
There will be no Israel-US defense pact
The Saudis have made it clear that a normalization deal won't happen so long as the current government is in power.
www.israeltoday.co.il
