Main Topic: President Joe Biden's push for normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Key Points:
1. National security adviser Jake Sullivan dispatched to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
2. Talks covered initiatives for a more peaceful Middle East, efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, and hopes to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
3. Brokering a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia is challenging due to the kingdom's stance on recognizing Israel and concerns over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The conflict in Ukraine is reaching a critical point as calls for negotiations grow, but there are concerns about the effectiveness of negotiations with Russia and the lack of clear war aims from Western allies.
Washington and Riyadh should not support Netanyahu's government in normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, as Israel's current government is not stable or normal, according to New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.
Influential New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman warns Saudi Arabia against normalizing relations with Israel, stating that it is not possible to normalize relations with a government that is not normal.
Saudi Arabia has reportedly withdrawn from talks of normalizing ties with Israel due to the "extremist" nature of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
The Biden administration is pursuing a "grand bargain" in the Middle East, aiming to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia in order to achieve various benefits, including countering Iran and China, strengthening regional stability, and scoring a foreign policy win for Biden's re-election campaign in 2024.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism about the possibility of a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations General Assembly, but acknowledged the significant obstacles that need to be overcome, including the creation of a Palestinian state and Saudi demands for a defense pact and civilian nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that it is "likely" that Israel will establish a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, potentially creating a significant shift in foreign policy for both countries as they work towards a deal mediated by the US.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his satisfaction with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's optimistic tone regarding efforts to normalize relations between their countries, stating that they are getting closer to peace every day that passes.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has suggested that six or seven Muslim countries could establish peace with Israel if it signed a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, potentially reshaping the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent visit to the United States was marked by diplomatic successes, including progress in Saudi peace talks, a warming of Israeli-Turkish ties, and the elevation of Jerusalem's status, although tensions with the US and Ukraine persist.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo believes that establishing a Saudi Arabia-Israel peace deal would be "impossible" if it requires the Palestinians to receive or accept a Palestinian state, due to the current Palestinian leadership's rejection of reasonable offers and support of terrorism.
A group of Democratic senators have informed President Biden that any Saudi-Israel diplomatic pact should include Israel's commitment to halt settlements in Palestinian territories and uphold the possibility of a two-state solution, a stance which hardline Israeli government members are likely to oppose.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza's Palestinians jeopardizes a potential US-brokered deal to normalize Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel and ease oil prices.
The Kremlin has called for a negotiated solution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, expressing concerns about the possibility of third parties, including Iran and Hezbollah, getting involved.
Saudi Arabia has reportedly paused negotiations on normalizing ties with Israel, waiting to see how Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza unfolds.
Summary: The war between Israel and Hamas could have implications for oil supplies in 2024, potentially scuttling a deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel that would boost Saudi oil production, and forcing Biden to tighten sanctions on Iran, impacting his efforts to keep gas prices low. Additionally, the war may create a sense of crisis that pressures Republicans in the House of Representatives to resolve their leadership battle, and could lead to more aid for Ukraine due to the political dynamics surrounding Russia and Iran.
The current crisis in Israel and Palestine is a result of a combination of politics, religion, and economics, with conflicts over land and religious sites being the main issues. The main players in this war are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Islamic group Hamas, while the two-state solution, which aimed to establish separate Israeli and Palestinian states, has been derailed. The global implications include potential peace brokering by US President Joe Biden, but also the risk of shooting oil prices, a global recession, and increased resentment in the Islamic world. India needs to be vigilant about Pakistan's actions and may face economic challenges and disruptions in trade with Israel.
Jordan warns that any move by Israel to displace Palestinians would escalate the conflict and push the region towards a wider regional war, condemning Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Biden administration's decision to deprioritize efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is being questioned as the violence escalates, with angry Arab partners pointing to the US's failure to actively engage in the conflict.
There are signs of a diplomatic process, but new threats are emerging in the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to Richard Engel.
The recent Hamas-Israel conflict could have significant implications for the strategies and alliances of non-Middle Eastern countries, particularly Russia, as it aligns itself with Iran and organizations like Hamas, potentially impacting regional peace initiatives and energy security in the Middle East.