October 18, 2023
Hamas Tried to Sabotage Israeli-Saudi Normalization; U.S. Can Make It Backfire
Before Oct. 7, the biggest Middle East story was the growing prospect of a normalization agreement between the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
The thawing of Saudi-Israeli relations was unmistakable. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in late September, “We’re getting closer to peace every day.” Earlier this month, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi was photographed celebrating Sukkot with the ritual lulav and etrog in Riyadh.
America can do its part by continuing to aid and enable Israel’s success in this difficult mission.
Hamas’s grisly and barbaric terrorist attack was a transparent effort to forestall a U.S.-Saudi-Israel deal and, more broadly, Israel’s continued integration into the Middle Eastern community of nations. However, the tremendous show of support that Washington has shown and continues to show for Israel, rather than derailing the deal, demonstrates exactly what Riyadh stands to gain by signing on with the U.S. and Israel.
Read the full article from The Hill.
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