No clear framework for normalization between Saudi Arabia & Israel: White House
The White House denied this evening, Wednesday, a report by the US Wall Street Journal newspaper about agreements related to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
National security spokesman John Kirby said at a press conference that there was no agreed framework for a deal requiring Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel.
Kirby stated that there will still be several discussions that will take place here.
“There is no agreement on a set of negotiations, and there is no agreed framework regarding normalization or any of the other security considerations that we and our friends in the region have,” he said.
Kirby anticipated that US President Joe Biden would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this fall.
The “Wall Street Journal” (WSJ) reported, quoting unnamed US sources, that Washington and Riyadh had agreed on the basic terms of Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel in exchange for conditions.
WSJ pointed out that the United States and Saudi Arabia agreed on the general terms of Saudi recognition of Israel in exchange for concessions to the Palestinians as well as US security guarantees and the development of a civilian nuclear program for Riyadh.
The sources pointed out, “We hope that work will start on the most accurate details of the agreement during the next 9 to 12 months,” pointing out that the Saudis are trying to obtain concessions from Israel that would help advance the declaration of the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to the “site” Russia Today news.
In turn, Washington is trying to get Riyadh to constrain its growing relations with China.
In this regard, the United States can demand that Saudi Arabia not allow China to build military bases on the Kingdom’s lands, or limit the use of Chinese technology or deal in dollars, not in Chinese yuan, in oil deals.
The newspaper also mentioned, quoting American sources, which are considered a participating party in this deal, that the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is “serious” about reaching an agreement, while Saudi sources say that the Crown Prince told his aides that he is not ready to establish full diplomatic relations. With Israel, similar to the relations established by the Emirates.
US officials say that US President Joe Biden has not yet decided the size of the price he is willing to pay, while his focus on making this deal is a reflection of his view that the United States should remain a central player in the Middle East to “contain Iran.” Isolating Russia because of what is happening in Ukraine and thwarting China’s efforts to occupy Washington’s interests in the region.
In return for major US concessions to Saudi Arabia, the Biden administration is trying to obtain assurances from Riyadh that it will distance itself economically and militarily from China, according to US officials.
Last June, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia and said in a joint conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, that he had discussed normalization efforts with Israel in the Kingdom, saying: “We will continue to work on it to push it forward in the coming days, weeks and months.”
At the time, the Saudi foreign minister said that normalization with Israel “is in the interest of the region” and would “bring great benefits to everyone,” and continued: “But without peace with the Palestinians, any normalization with Israel will have limited benefits.”
Bin Farhan stressed, ‘We must focus on reaching a path that provides peace, justice, and dignity for the Palestinians.’
Saudi Arabia announced, before Biden visits Jeddah last year, that it would open its airspace to “all air carriers,” in a way that practically translated into allowing Israeli planes to cross the kingdom’s airspace.
