The American media’s perspective on the Gaza war and its implications for Saudi Arabia.
Faren Afrez assessed the sudden termination of the agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime as a victory for Hamas in the war with this regime and wrote: This agreement could have helped Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, in advancing his goals to diversify the Saudi economy and It will make it easier to reduce dependence on oil exports. However, the war in Gaza and the possibility of escalation of conflicts threaten the progress of this process.
At the same time as the American and European leaders asked him to play a leading role in the future of Gaza, the Saudi crown prince is now facing pressure from inside and outside his country. Riyadh is also under pressure from regional and domestic groups that want the country to support the Palestinians actively.
Foreign Afers wrote, that the parties who expect Saudi Arabia to play a role in the Gaza war may be disappointed. Because Saudi Arabia is neither able nor willing to enter its forces in Gaza after the war or incur huge costs in the reconstruction of this area.
This country also shows no desire to use the tools at its disposal, including the tools to reduce oil production or the export of this product, to pressure the Zionist regime and the United States.
This media continued: Although the agreement to normalize relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv has been removed from the negotiation table for the time being, the motivations that encouraged Saudi Arabia to reconsider its approach to recognizing the Zionist regime have not disappeared yet. However, the economic goals of the Saudi Crown Prince will be met only through stability in the Middle East and strong relations with America. This long program will shape the course of Saudi actions in the current conflict in the region.
Before the attack of Hamas, the administration of Joe Biden faced obstacles to the normalization agreement due to conflicting interests of the three parties of the normalization agreement. But despite the progress made to reach an agreement, the Palestinian issue and the Saudis’ request to form an independent country remained an obstacle.
Even before the Gaza war, Saudi Arabia asked Israel to take fundamental action on the Palestinian issue and made it a precondition for any normalization of relations. But as long as the Zionist regime is engaged in the Gaza war and the Arab public opinion is mobilized to support the Palestinians, a normalization agreement is not possible.
This report added that the ceasefire with the Yemeni Houthis, the lifting of the embargo on Qatar in 2021, and the communication with China to mediate to resume relations with Iran, all were carried out in the name of the Saudi Crown Prince’s economic reform program known as “Vision 2030”, which diversification It targeted the economy and reducing economic dependence on oil. Riyadh emphasizes the necessity of regional stability for greater integration and economic development. In this context, America mediated to normalize relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
Saudi Arabia will likely be willing to take on the role of financier in the future UN-approved transitional government in Gaza; A government that will be established until the return of control of this area to the Palestinian Authority.
However, this Saudi role will not include transferring huge amounts of money, similar to the country’s past aid. Riyadh has emphasized in its recent negotiations with the Egyptian side that it prefers investment opportunities to cash transfers.
The approach that Saudi Arabia will use in Gaza will be the same unless the US makes such an agreement sweeter with the diplomatic achievements that Riyadh seeks in the normalization agreement with the Zionist regime.
Referring to the developments of the 1973 war between the Arabs and Israel and the oil embargoes of Saudi Arabia and Arab countries against the United States to punish this country for supporting the Zionist regime, this media wrote that the current situation is different from 1973 and politicians and business leaders should Be at ease.
Some observers are worried about the decrease in oil production, but the Saudis have already reduced oil production to two million barrels per day. This decision was taken at the end of 2022 and further reduction of production is not beneficial for Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Affairs concluded: The Gaza crisis, like all crises, will subside and may last for more than weeks and months and stop any other diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. But as long as Israeli forces are in Gaza, there is little or no chance of speeding up indirect negotiations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv with the mediation of the Biden administration.
However, the factors that motivated these negotiations have not disappeared yet. Tel Aviv is interested in having closer ties with Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, the Saudis want to be able to take advantage of Israel’s economy. Both sides still see Iran as a regional threat. The request of Saudi Arabia from the Zionist regime to take some concrete steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state will remain an obstacle, but if the war in Gaza leads to a new development in the cabinet of the Zionist regime, perhaps these obstacles will be reduced and the possibility of returning to the negotiating table to be provided
This media reminded us that any agreement by the Arab countries with Tel Aviv is an agreement with the United States. The prospect of such benefits would be attractive to Saudi Arabia regardless of what happens in Israel and Gaza. The eventual return of normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime would also mean a return to US-Saudi talks in line with Riyadh’s wish list: guaranteeing security and US support for Saudi nuclear development without the safeguards Washington imposes on other countries. slow