op-ed: Normalization... Saudi Arabia is the strongest link

There is much talk about an upcoming deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, with American mediation. Before starting, we must admit that Saudi Arabia's position differs from the rest of the countries that have moved towards normalization, and that the road to the White House starts from Jerusalem! Saudi Arabia's position on the Palestinian issue is clear and unambiguous, and Saudi Arabia has made its position clear on many occasions, despite the noise of the American and Western media to the contrary, based on the language of interests and the language of weapons in a pragmatic neoliberal world! Saudi Arabia rejects normalization before implementing the Arab Peace Initiative launched by King Abdullah for peace in the Middle East. It was announced at the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002. Its aim is recognition and normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel in exchange for the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of refugees according to the Resolution 194 and Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights. This initiative won the support of all Arab and Islamic countries, while the occupying power neglected it by not responding.

Netanyahu is trying hard to promote a close normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, as this is his survival strategy! Recently, Saudi Arabia took the decision to appoint a “non-resident” ambassador to the Palestinian Authority. Saudi Arabia’s appointment of Ambassador “Nayef Al-Sudairi” to the State of Palestine, and Consul General of the Kingdom in Jerusalem, comes as a message to Israel that is in the interest of the Palestinians. The Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, replied: “They did not coordinate with us. We will not allow the opening of any diplomatic mission. They did not coordinate with us. We will not allow the opening of any diplomatic mission. What lies behind the progress of the talks between Saudi Arabia and the American administration is that the Saudis want to deliver a message to the Palestinians that they have not forgotten them. We do not allow countries to open consulates.” ».

Historically, there was a Saudi representation residing in Jerusalem in 1947 under the direction of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi Consulate General was opened in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The appointment of an extraordinary ambassador today does not mean to raise the level of relations, but rather to not have his actual residence, which is a normal and natural expression according to the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations 1961 and 1963. In the text of the appointment, Saudi Arabia used the expression “the city of Jerusalem” and not “East Jerusalem.” This is an explicit response to the United States considering the “city of Jerusalem” and not “West Jerusalem” as the capital of Israel.. With this step, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms that the “city of Jerusalem” is a land for the State of Palestine that has “the right of sovereignty” over it, and thus it has the right to accredit ambassadors and consuls there.

Netanyahu is in dire need of this agreement, but the world must realize that Netanyahu has not presented or proven since the signing of the "Abraham Accords" anything attractive to Saudi Arabia, on the contrary; It embarrassed the countries that normalized, and the agreement to form the coalition that took place on December 28, 2022 refers to the Land of Israel, where the rights are exclusive to the Jews! "The Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right throughout the Land of Israel." If the constitution of this government is based on the Judaization of the Noble Sanctuary, securing the police grip on it, and the escalation of violence against the Palestinians by enabling the terror of settlers, the confiscation of lands, and the allocation of millions for settlement and annexation in the occupied territories! What does the Netanyahu government offer to tempt Saudi Arabia to ride the wave of normalization? On the contrary, it is not in the kingdom's interest to abandon its peace initiative that contains clear criteria.

The Saudis are well aware that the Israelis do not think of real peace, otherwise the peace initiative has been ready for 20 years. Saudi Arabia wants stability, development, peace and supremacy in the region, and this will only be achieved by resolving the Palestinian issue in a just solution and by establishing a Palestinian state according to the Saudi Arab initiative and with “East Jerusalem” as its capital. What hinders this is the Israeli refusal and the adoption of economic deals in exchange for peace. This will not come up with a political solution.

Under the reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is presenting itself as a progressive regional and global power. The Saudi position today is very strong, taking into account the détente with Iran and Syria in the region, and on the other hand the development in Chinese-Saudi relations and finally the BRICS alliance, where Saudi Arabia joins a group of countries (China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, India) in addition to the accession of the UAE And Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina and Iran at the beginning of 2024, and this is considered a very important development in the international balance of power after decades of a unipolar system.

Analyzes indicate that there is progress in the negotiations, but the Saudi demands related to the nuclear reactor, uranium enrichment, and the defense agreement with the United States, and this requires the approval of Congress, and these are the conditions that impede the agreement, and not the Palestinian file, as some believe. The Saudi position is clear and strong, and Saudi Arabia adopts a pragmatic and progressive approach in its negotiations, so as to ensure its security and supremacy in the region through this agreement, which may save Netanyahu and Biden, if it is concluded

- Dr. Dalal Erekat: Professor of Diplomacy and Strategic Planning, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Arab American University.