After normalizing relations between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on one hand, and Israel on the other, observers wondered which Gulf country will be the next to have full diplomatic and normal ties with Tel Aviv.
Early this month, Saudi Arabia announced opening its airspaces to Israeli flights for the first time. The Saudis said the decision came in response to “a request by the U.A.E.”
On August 31, a flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi passed through Saudi airspace. Air India had earlier received approval to fly directly to Israel, and in 2018 established a direct route from New Delhi to Tel Aviv that passed over the kingdom, according to US reports.
The Saudis did neither welcome nor criticize the normalization deals signed between the U.A.E., Bahrain and Tel Aviv.
Israeli writer Elie Podeh wrote that the real prize to Israel is “Riyadh,” in reference to benefits that Tel Aviv will gain if the Saudi Kingdom accepts normalizing ties with Tel Aviv.
It’s noteworthy that Saudi’s MBS was quoted in The Atlantic during his most recent visit to the U.S. in April 2018 saying Israel is a big economy and “there are a lot of interests we share with Tel Aviv.”
Moreover, he said there has to be a peace agreement to assure stability and to have normal relations.
As an observer, I can imagine that many Gulf countries will embrace Israel and unite against Iran. The Saudis recognize the power of Tel Aviv economically and politically in terms of its significant lobby in the U.S. that affects many of Washington’s policies and decisions.
As an Arab, I believe that King Salman will never allow such a decision to be taken. The Saudi heir, MBS, may change the Muslims’ Qibla towards Jerusalem after his father’s death, hoping that he has a fair and just solution to the Palestinian cause.
The Saudi Kingdom is the sponsor of the Arab Peace Initiative which provides for the establishment of a Palestinian state in exchange for normalization with the occupied Zionist entity.
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