Israeli-Saudi normalization can happen soon, Lapid predicts

[Irfan Baloch]

Israeli-Saudi normalization can happen soon, Lapid predicts​

Netanyahu has spoken of the possibility of an Israeli-Saudi deal, to add to the normalization agreements he finalized the Abraham Accords.​

By TOVAH LAZAROFF

Published: DECEMBER 29, 2022 14:17
Updated: DECEMBER 29, 2022 14:22

Former prime minister Yair Lapid speaking at the Knesset plenum as the new government takes their positions.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Advertisement


Israel can normalize ties with Saudi Arabia in the near future, outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid told the Knesset as he urged his successor Benjamin Netanyahu to follow on the groundwork his government had laid for such a deal.

"We started a dialogue with the Saudis to allow, in its first phase, for Israeli plans to fly over Saudi Arabia and to allow Israeli citizens direct flights to Mecca during the Haj," Lapid said.


"We did more than that. We laid down the foundations for Saudi Arabia to fully join the Abraham Accords," he explained.


Top Articles
Read More
Hundreds gather outside Knesset to protest 37th government








דוחים את החלומות? בואו להגשים אותם בקצב שלכם!Sponsored by www.bankhapoalim.co.il
כך תבחרו מזגן חסכוני שיחמם אתכם בחורף הישראליSponsored by הייסנס - Hisense
[Photos] She Never Got Married, and Now We Know WhySponsored by DailySportX
אינטרנט הסיבים של בזק הגיע אליכם? זה הזמן לגלותSponsored by Bfiber - הסיבים האופטיים של בזק



"If the new government will follow the path we laid out, it is possible to normalize ties with the Saudis in the near future," he said.

Lapid was in the Prime Minister's office for only half a year, replacing Naftali Bennett who had led their government since its inception in June 2021.

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 20, 2018. (credit: REUTERS/HUSEYIN ALDEMIR/FILE PHOTO)
At the Knesset on Thursday prior to the swearing of Netanyahu's government, he summarized the activities of his joint government with Bennett, in which he had also held the post of Foreign Minister.

What has Netanyahu said?​

Netanyahu has spoken of the possibility of an Israeli-Saudi deal, to add to the normalization agreements he finalized with four Arab countries in 2020 under the auspices of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

הצעות מחיר לביטוח רכב: איך לבחור את ההצעה הטובה ביותרSponsored by ביטוח ישיר
סוגרים את 2022 ללא כאבים! בי-קיור לייזר במבצע שווה במיוחדSponsored by B-Cure Laser
שוקלים להחליף קופת חולים? עכשיו זה הזמן לעבור למכביSponsored by מכבי שירותי בריאות
ביטוח משכנתא: כמה עולה והאם באמת כדאי?Sponsored by ביטוח ישיר


When he addressed the Knesset, Netanyahu spoke of wanting to finalize more normalization deals with countries in the region, explaining that he wanted to "widen the circle of peace" and "end the Israeli-Arab conflict."

Lapid said that his government had strengthened Israel's ties with Abraham Accord countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco where embassies had opened.

Together with the United States, they joined these countries with Israel's more longstanding allies Egypt and Jordan, in a newly created body called the Negev Forum.

Against all predictions, Lapid said, his government had been effective in working against Iran.

He credited his joint government with Bennett with thwarting US President Joe Biden's efforts to revive the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Israeli-Saudi normalization can happen soon, Lapid predicts

Netanyahu has spoken of the possibility of an Israeli-Saudi deal, to add to the normalization agreements he finalized the Abraham Accords.

www.jpost.com

will be the best thing to happen. and the rest of the Islamic world will follow suit.
the only thing is that hardliners on both sides should also accept that. find a permanent and amicable solution for the Palestinians.
first step is people to people contact and humanize each other .

 

[Corruptistan]

Not going to happen with the current right wing allies Nethanyahu has brought with him

Depends on what KSA can gain from it and vice versa. Netanyahu seems very keen himself. I don’t think that Arab states are going to shot themselves in the feet and miss out on cooperation with Israel (for another 75 years) just due to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. We saw that with Egypt initially (although cold peace) and Jordan (cold peace too) and most recently with UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. Other Arab states are likely to follow and the nature of the conflict is more local (Israel vs Palestine) rather than some kind of major Arab - Israeli conflict.

Locals don’t bother with more wars, conflicts and instability. Progress, in particular for the likes of wealthy KSA and GCC, is the priority, not solving a 100 + year conflict that only Israelis and Palestinians can solve, frankly.

From a pragmatic point of view, nobody can blame them.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Guess our hatred of each other is smaller than the mutual hatred of Iran and the benefits of relationship between ourselves.

I can only wish that the mutual hatred for Iran also ends in acceptance and normalization in our lifetime.
Hatred is against the good human nature.

Not going to happen with the current right wing allies Nethanyahu has brought with him

that is sadly true,
these Allies will always make Israeli Diplomacy with Arab Monarchs are very hard and delicate business.
only a more outrageous rants from the Ayatollahs will come as a welcome rescue and help Netanyahu to tell his allies to STFU and look at the bigger picture going eastward of the KSA..

 

[Rusty2]

so... are our resident holy warriors going to call people "Arab boot lickers" now?

 

[Beny Karachun]

I can only wish that the mutual hatred for Iran also ends in acceptance and normalization in our lifetime.
Hatred is against the good human nature.

With Iran's current rule? That's impossible.