When Benjamin Netanyahu formed his sixth government in December 2022, he announced that one of his foreign policy goals would be to sign a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, and at the same time expressed his optimism that the agreement would be implemented in a short time, but events on the ground blew up Netanyahu's ideas, and some Israeli analysts, specialists and experts even went so far as to confirm that Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023 was also aimed at preventing the normalization process between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

Last month, according to the Hebrew media, when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Saudi Arabia, he was not satisfied with his meeting with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, but was transferred to a private meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and behind the scenes, Beijing was the one that mediated and led to the renewal of relations between Tehran and Riyadh last year.

Israeli orientalist Smadar Perry said in an article published in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that China does not stop mediating, and has pressured the two countries to bring the Saudi Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili to Tehran.

Perry, who relied on political and security sources in the entity, added that “the relations, which have begun to be rebuilt after seven years of estrangement, including an Iranian attack (which denied its role) on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, are now focused on preparing for joint military maneuvers in the Red Sea and economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh has taken it upon itself to deliver to Iran the basic products that the American embargo prevents from being traded and sold.”

She continued, “The emergency summit in Riyadh, which was held a year after the Arab-Islamic summit held in Saudi Arabia in 2023 on the same date, was attended by all the heads of the Arab and Islamic world, with the exception of Iranian President Masoud Peskov, and although he apologized in advance for his inability to attend due to urgent internal matters, referring to preparations for an attack on Israel, he did not leave the Iranian seat empty, and sent his first deputy, Mohammad Reza Aref, with a letter of apology to the host in Riyadh.”

She explained that “the statements made by Crown Prince Bin Salman at the opening of the summit were difficult and unusual for the Israeli ear, and the American efforts to sit senior representatives from Saudi Arabia and Israel in the same room and hold talks on improving the relationship were pushed deep into the drawers of Bin Salman’s office, and he is now fiercely attacking Israel only, calling for a complete withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank, and a complete cessation of Israeli army activity in Lebanon, and expanding the talk about attacks in Iran and other places, referring to Syria, Lebanon and the Iraqi-Syrian border linked to Iran.”

The writer stated that “Bin Salman’s frank speech directly addressed Israeli behavior, following the army’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and even in some parts of Iraq. The Houthis in Yemen were not mentioned at the Riyadh summit, and it is no coincidence, for Saudi considerations.” According to Dr. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, “The Saudis want an effective rapprochement with Iran in order to try to stay out of the line of fire, because they expect that in the coming months, even before Trump enters the White House, there will be a flare-up between Iran and Israel, and they want to stay out of the line of fire. The pro-Iran statements are intended to serve this purpose, to show the Iranians that they are not in a state of normalization with Israel and that its attack on Iran does not please them, and there is definitely reconciliation with Iran here.” He added: “It is important to note that the Americans are no longer criticizing Saudi Arabia’s internal affairs or human rights. The most important thing for the Saudis is that Trump, for them, is able to pressure Netanyahu to end the war quickly, in Gaza and Lebanon, and he can be pressured to make progress on the Palestinian issue, and this, from the Saudi point of view, is a facade for progress to the two countries,” the researcher said.

The orientalist also said that “it is important to note that today, Bin Salman is no longer the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia four years ago, and has since gained power and leadership, and his positions are clearer, and he still casts a sceptical eye on Iran. Trump promised that when he enters the White House he will stop the wars, and Saudi Arabia, followed by Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, is waiting for a change in the administration in Washington and is demanding an American arms embargo on Israel to stop further fighting on the Israeli side.”

She concluded, “The issue of Hezbollah was not discussed at the summit, and Hamas was rebuffed, and in both cases, the Saudi crown prince is ready to work with President Trump, and is keen to present a tough image to stop all wars.”

Source: Sama News