Israel says it’s up the US whether normalization succeeds

Etgar Lefkovits, Jewish News Syndicate, “‘Washington thinks Israel-Saudi normalization possible’” June 21, 2023 dmr

The United States believes that a landmark diplomatic deal normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is achievable, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said on Tuesday. The remarks come as the Biden administration has embarked on an intense diplomatic push to reach such an agreement, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said could pave the way to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. “There is an increased American involvement on the issue,” Hanegbi told JNS in an interview in Cyprus. “They believe that there is a possibility [to reach an agreement]. Hanegbi said that the Americans had not yet updated the Israeli government on the contours of such an agreement or what their vision is, and said that the situation remains murky. “There is more hidden than known,” he said, using the popular Hebrew saying. At the same time, Hanegbi said that “generally speaking” he was “optimistic” that it was possible to enlarge the circle of Arab countries that have normalized relations with Israel since the historic Abraham Accords were signed under President Trump in 2020. He noted, however, that in the case of Saudi Arabia the ball was not in Israel’s court. “It’s up to them,” Hanegbi said. “We want normalization and peace, but they have their own demands of the Americans.” Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia. In return for normalization with Israel, Riyadh reportedly wants American support for its civilian nuclear program, something Washington has long opposed, as well as a strong security pact with the United States. Israeli officials had previously said that intense efforts were underway to reach a normalization accord with the Saudis by the end of the year. Netanyahu has called a deal with the Saudis a “quantum leap” for regional peace, which would effectively end the Arab-Israeli conflict. Hanegbi said that the premier’s long-held vision for peace with the Arab world served as “a compass” for regional accords.