[News] Soft normalization: Saudi Arabia quietly engages with Israel

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Soft normalization: Saudi Arabia quietly engages with Israel

Riyadh’s once stealthy pursuit of normalization with Tel Aviv is becoming
increasingly overt, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambition
to secure his future throne. It is a task that has become infinitely more
difficult since 7 October 2023.

Mawadda Iskandar <https://thecradle.co/authors/mawadda-iskandar>

AUG 20, 2024 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/soft-normalization-saudi-arabia-quietly-engages-with-israel
(Photo Credit: The Cradle)

Despite Israel’s ongoing brutal assault on the Gaza Strip and its 2.4
million Palestinians, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS)
continues to pursue a controversial deal to normalize relations with the
occupation state. Riyadh has persisted in deepening relations with Tel Aviv
in multiple sectors despite receiving ‘death threats
<https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/08/14/saudi-prince-mbs-israel-deal-00173898>’
from
opponents of normalization in the kingdom.

So why, then, does the crown prince insist on trudging down this unpopular
path unless he believes that establishing ties with Israel is crucial for
securing his ascendency to the Saudi throne?

Earlier this week, *Politico* revealed new details about these secretive
negotiations, including multiple US commitments to Riyadh. These US
assurances range from security guarantees through a treaty to assistance
with a civilian nuclear program and economic investments in technology.

However, Tel Aviv remains resistant to including a credible path for
establishing a Palestinian state as part of a deal, a key demand
<https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/independent-palestinian-state-prerequisite-before-normalization-with-israel-saudi-arabia/3140785>
from
the Saudis.

*A history of quiet diplomatic moves*

Normalization with Saudi Arabia is no less important for Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has considered
<https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2022/10/21/exp-gps-1023-bibi-netanyahu-saudi-normalization-iran.cnn>
the
deal a major diplomatic goal since before his re-election in 2022. Prior to
last year’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Netanyahu believed the deal was
imminent.

Today, the situation remains complex, with the deal's fate hanging in the
balance due to conflicting conditions and demands set by Saudi Arabia, the
US, and Israel.

The roots of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel stretch back
several decades, with a history of covert diplomatic dealings often
referred to as ‘soft normalization
<https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/saudi-arabia-adopts-soft-normalisation-with-israel-40030>
.’

Since his appointment as Riyadh’s ambassador to Washington in 1983, Prince
Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud laid the groundwork
<https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/ar/policy-analysis/althlyl-alalamy-llqa-alamyr-trky-alfysl-wallwa-mydrwr>
for
this gradual rapprochement, meeting with Israeli political and security
leaders over the years. His successor, Turki al-Faisal, continued these
efforts
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-chief-raps-west-over-missteps-in-iran-syria/>,
becoming a key point man in Saudi–Israeli contacts.

Anwar Eshki, who served as his predecessor and was an adviser to Prince
Bandar, participated in seminars promoting normalization and paid his first
visit <https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast/2016/07/160724_saudi_israel> to
the occupied territories in 2016.

A pivotal moment in this covert relationship took place in 2019 when MbS
hosted a delegation of evangelical figures supporting the Zionist project
led by Joel Rosenberg. The meeting, along with subsequent secret talks
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/23/benjamin-netanyahu-secret-meeting-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman>
between
MbS and Netanyahu in NEOM in 2020, marked a notable step toward open
normalization. Over time, such meetings and visits became routine, with
Saudi officials and citizens increasingly engaging with Israel, including
making public visits to the occupied territories
<https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/syfab6bz2>.

*Repressive measures and strategic interests*

The two states share several strategic goals. Saudi Arabia is opposed to
the regional Axis of Resistance, which includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah,
Ansarallah, Hamas, and other non-state actors, and has implemented
repressive measures against the Palestinian resistance. The kingdom has for
years targeted
<https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2019/9/23/what-is-behind-the-saudi-campaign-against-hamas>
supporters
of Hamas and individuals funneling funds to the Palestinian territories.
This includes the arrest of more than 60 Palestinians
<http://more%20than%2060%20palestinians/> in 2019, some of them Hamas
officials and Saudi nationals who received lengthy prison terms.

As recently as May, Saudi Arabia stepped up its campaign to arrest social
media users in the kingdom who attacked Israel online – this after more
than 34,000 Palestinians had been killed in relentless Israeli airstrikes
on population centers.

>From the sidelines, Saudi Arabia has also supported
<https://www.mc-doualiya.com/articles/20200912-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9>
the
normalization efforts of Bahrain and Sudan while offering the occupied West
Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) economic incentives
<https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001342342&fbclid=IwAR0fpNNWhu_GYPzmTmgqyQ80VQo0jHyRWtsAbccsemZjpeanS3-sCQT0Ofs>
to
collaborate further with Israel.

Since its inception, the kingdom has utilized Islam to legitimize its
political actions, and this Saudi soft normalization with Israel is no
exception, with Muhammad bin Abdul Karim bin Abdulaziz Al-Issa, Secretary
General of the Muslim World League, playing a key role in promoting
religious normalization.

Since 2017, Al-Issa has championed the cause of interfaith dialogue as a
gateway for furthering religious ties with Israel. His 2020 visit to
Auschwitz
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-cleric-known-for-auschwitz-visit-interfaith-dialogue-gives-main-hajj-sermon/>
and
subsequent meetings with Israeli and Jewish leaders were part of this
broader strategy.

US Special Envoy
<https://twitter.com/StateSEAS/status/1542217953587888130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1542217953587888130%7Ctwgr%5E720ed264f517f2acbfa010b50c8e61dcec9c979e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsabq.org%2Fsaudia%2FD8A3D8A8D8AFD8AA-D8A5D8B9D8ACD8A7D8A8D987D8A7-D8A7D984D8B4D8AFD98AD8AF-D985D8A7D8B0D8A7-D982D8A7D984D8AA-D8B3D981D98AD8B1D8A9-D8A3D985D8B1D98AD983D98AD8A9-D8B9D985D8A7-D8B1D8A3D8AAD987-D981D98A-D8A7D984D8B3D8B9D988D8AFD98AD8A9>
for
Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, Deborah Lipstadt, also met with
Saudi officials in the kingdom, and a delegation
<https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bk1p6mevk>of American Jewish leaders
visited to promote normalization. Areas of soft normalization included
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of Rabbi Yaakov Herzog, a former Israeli artillery
soldier and an extremist Zionist advocate of the demolition of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque. The rabbi seeks to stir controversy
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-saudi-arabia-a-rabbi-angles-to-lead-a-jewish-community-that-doesnt-exist/?fbclid=IwAR1efLKtqo6lEhkH7fPmwyXIMfQroqu8AOUHFTgRYoN63jQpAOwqAB7kL5o>
through his activities, including a visit
<https://twitter.com/RabbiHerzog/status/1549099493211213826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1549099493211213826%7Ctwgr%5Eff1d205855b87b5ebf1a30a12bda9a1d249b0242%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.watanserb.com%2F2022%2F07%2F19%2FD8A7D984D8B1D8B3D988D984-D8A3D8AED8B1D8AC-D8A7D984D98AD987D988D8AF-D985D986-D8A7D984D985D8AFD98AD986D8A9-D8A7D984D985D986D988D8B1D8A9%2F>to
the mosque and the cemetery of martyrs of Uhud in Medina.

*Security and economic ties with Israel *

Unsurprisingly, Riyadh and Tel Aviv have worked to enhance their security
cooperation – a significant aspect of their relationship today. As the world’s
largest arms importer
<https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/fs_2103_at_2020.pdf>,
Saudi Arabia has sought to enhance its military capabilities through deals
with the occupation state, including acquiring Israel’s flawed Iron Dome
air defense system
<https://thecradle.co/articles/cracks-in-the-dome-israels-security-mirage>.
Security relations have included joint military exercises and cooperation
on cybersecurity, with Saudi Arabia relying on Israeli spyware
<https://www.ft.com/content/24f22b28-56d1-4d66-8f76-c9020b1b5cb1> to
monitor and control opposition within the kingdom.

Speaking to *The Cradle*, dissident Saudi author and political analyst
Fouad Ibrahim says:

Saudi Arabia views normalization as more than just a political project, as
it also includes an economic project and a strategic project related to the
future of the throne in Saudi Arabia.

Economic normalization is crucial for MbS’s coveted Vision 2030 project,
which aims to transform the kingdom’s economy and institute social
liberalization. The deal with Israel includes opening Saudi airspace to
Israeli flights
<https://ar.timesofisrael.com/%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A/>
and
encouraging Israeli investment in Saudi heritage sites. Jared Kushner, the
architect of the 2020 Abraham Accords, has played a prominent role
<https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/jared-kushner-investment-firm-affinity-raises-3-billion-committed-funding-2021-12-23/>
in
these efforts, working to establish an investment corridor between Riyadh
and Tel Aviv.

Among the most ambitious projects is the fiber optic cable linking Tel Aviv
to Persian Gulf countries, as well as a planned railway expansion that
would connect Saudi Arabia to Israel via Jordan. Ibrahim contends that the
Palestinian resistance’s Al-Aqsa Flood operation last October disrupted
these plans, placing a whole host of these economic projects in jeopardy:

The Al-Aqsa Flood came and thwarted this project and disrupted it for an
unknown period. Therefore, the Saudi regime, along with the US and the
Israeli entity, was the first to feel that the Al-Aqsa Flood was directed
primarily at the normalization project in the region.

*Softening stance leading to soft normalization *

Cultural and media strategies have played an advanced role in acclimating
Saudis to normalization with Israel. Since the events of 11 September 2001,
Saudi Arabia has worked on revising its education curricula, gradually
removing references to Israel as an enemy and promoting a more neutral
stance
<https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240604-saudi-arabia-softens-stance-toward-israel-in-new-school-curriculum-study-finds/>
on
the occupation state. Art and media have also played a role, with Saudi TV
channels airing programs that subtly promote peace with Israel.

The media, in particular, has been a powerful tool in shaping public
perception, with Saudi outlets often hosting Israeli officials and
broadcasting reports from within the kingdom. This propaganda campaign has
aimed to create a climate conducive to normalization, although public
support for such a move has fluctuated, especially after the events of 7
October.

At the heart of the crown prince’s Vision 2030 is his desire to position
Saudi Arabia as a global sports hub. The Public Investment Fund, Saudi
Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, leads this expansive project by purchasing
major foreign sports franchises and hosting international sporting events
in the kingdom.

The sports sector has been yet another tool of soft normalization, paving
the way for official Israeli teams
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/shachar-sagiv-becomes-first-israeli-athlete-to-compete-in-saudi-arabia/>
to
appear in Saudi Arabia, where they raise the occupation state’s flag
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-anthem-plays-in-saudi-at-fifa-video-game-cup-rehearsal-but-not-at-ceremony/>and
sing its national anthem. Official matches and competitions are held
between  <https://arab.news/gpzur>Saudi and Israeli players, and the Saudi
national football team  <https://al-akhbar.com/World_Cup/277768>has even
participated in matches held in the occupied West Bank.

As is now glaringly evident, Riyadh’s efforts toward normalization with Tel
Aviv have been multifaceted, involving diplomatic, religious, security,
economic, cultural, and media strategies. While these efforts have made
significant progress over the years, the future of this delicate
relationship remains uncertain, especially with rapid developments in the
region-wide resistance against the occupation state in solidarity with
Palestinians in Gaza.

The underlying strategic interests that drive Riyadh’s approach to Israel –
security, economic growth, and regional influence – suggest that these
efforts will continue, albeit with tweaks and adjustments, so as not to
invite reprisals from the Resistance Axis, not least the Yemeni Armed
Forces on Saudi Arabia’s restive southern border.
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