Bin Salman, in line with US-Israel summit
Interview with pro-Republican Fox News
Sets "Palestinian independence" as condition
Saudi Arabia, which is advancing negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel under U.S. mediation, has demanded a 'security commitment' from the United States. As Saudi Arabia continues to make demands that directly contradict U.S. foreign policy in exchange for normalization, the Biden administration's Middle East restructuring strategy has fallen into uncertainty. In a situation where President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election, desperately needs diplomatic achievements, Saudi Arabia is raising negotiation points without exit strategies, such as 'Palestinian independence' and the 'Iran nuclear issue.'
On the 20th (local time), Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia said in an interview with U.S. Fox News, "The Palestinian (independence) issue is very important to us," adding, "(In all negotiations for normalization with Israel) this issue must be resolved first." He also stated regarding the possibility of talks for normalization with Israel, "We are getting closer every day."
When asked if he was worried about their adversary Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, he said, "We are concerned about any country possessing nuclear weapons," calling it "a bad move." He added, "If they get nuclear weapons, we will have to have them too."
This interview came amid U.S. efforts to promote diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. There is a reason why Saudi Arabia publicly mentioned the establishment of a Palestinian independent state as a precondition for normalization with Israel.
Since the first Middle East war in 1948, Israel and Palestine, which became enemies, have been linked by a series of conflicts for over 70 years and still do not recognize each other as states. In this situation, Saudi Arabia demanded concessions from Israel.
Saudi Arabia intends to leverage the Palestinian issue in the intensifying normalization talks to gain an upper hand in negotiations with the United States. Bloomberg News pointed out, "Considering that the current Israeli government leans far-right, it is uncertain whether concessions on the Palestinian issue can be made."
The Biden administration views the normalization of relations between the two countries as a potential diplomatic achievement to highlight ahead of next year's presidential election. President Biden, who is running for re-election and struggling with approval ratings, is in urgent need of diplomatic accomplishments. If official diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel are restored, the Biden administration's 'India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)' is expected to accelerate, which would be a positive factor in the election campaign.
A key link in this IMEC is the railway connection between Saudi Arabia and Israel, making diplomatic ties between the two countries essential. President Biden aims to achieve an agreement on normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia within this year.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have begun discussions on key bilateral issues such as security guarantees and the Iran nuclear issue. According to The New York Times (NYT), the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are discussing a military cooperation agreement similar to the 'U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty' and the 'U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.'
This marks a major shift in the Biden administration's Middle East diplomacy, which had thoroughly excluded Saudi Arabia based on human rights-centered value diplomacy. Until recently, the U.S. even showed a conciliatory stance toward Iran, Saudi Arabia's adversary, by concluding a prisoner exchange negotiation.
The NYT noted, "During the last election campaign, Biden vowed to make Crown Prince bin Salman an 'international pariah,'" adding, "The push for diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel was a gamble that was hard to imagine until recently." Foreign media foresee that if the Biden administration accepts Saudi Arabia's demands, significant changes in bilateral relations?severely strained since the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018?and U.S. Middle East policy will be inevitable.
However, it is uncertain whether proactive cooperation between the two countries can gain approval from the U.S. Congress. For this security treaty to be ratified in the Senate, 67 out of 100 votes are required. The NYT predicted, "Both Democrats and Republicans view Crown Prince Mohammed, who shows little concern for U.S. interests or human rights, as an unreliable partner, so the treaty will face opposition in Congress."
The Middle Eastern media The National highlighted that Crown Prince bin Salman chose the far-right, pro-Republican Fox News for this interview. This is the first exclusive interview bin Salman has given to U.S. media in four years since relations between the two countries deteriorated. Choosing a far-right, pro-Republican outlet and raising the Palestinian issue?something Israel absolutely cannot concede?reflects a calculation to leverage this to increase negotiating power with the United States.
This interview was aired shortly after a meeting between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Biden met with Netanyahu for an hour in New York, where the United Nations General Assembly was being held. This was their first face-to-face meeting in about nine months since Netanyahu returned to power at the end of last year.
The delay in the meeting between the two longtime allies reflects international criticism over Palestinian policies and attempts to undermine the judiciary. It is reported that President Biden, aware of growing criticism within the U.S. against Israel's far-right government, did not invite Netanyahu to the White House.
President Biden said, "We will uphold democratic values, including checks and balances, which are at the core of our partnership, preserve the path toward a two-state solution through negotiations, and ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons." Prime Minister Netanyahu responded, "We can build historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia," adding, "This peace will last long and advance reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state, as well as genuine peace between Israel and Palestine."
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