Saudi princes split over peace treaty recognizes Israel as Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ‘favors closer ties’ with historic enemy
- Saudi Arabia’s ruling principals have split whether they sign a peace treaty with Israel
- Israel is now recognized by countries including the UAE, Bahrain and Morroco
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to want to sign a contract
- His cousin criticized Israel as the last colonial power in the Middle East
Saudi princes are divided over a peace deal that Israel recognized as Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman says he favors closer ties with the country’s historic enemy.
Nearby countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have all recognized Israel as a county.
So far Saudi Arabia has not followed suit, but talks between the two countries are thought to have taken place as far back as November.
Israeli state media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the Gulf kingdom to meet with Mohammed bin Salman last month, but Saudi Arabia denied the bid.
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is said to be open to recognizing Israel, prompting criticism from his cousin
The Crown Prince is said to be open to a treaty, but has drawn open criticism from his cousin, Prince Turki al-Faisal, who was head of intelligence.
Speaking earlier this month, Prince Turki described the country as the ‘last western settlement power in the Middle East,’ saying: ‘Israel is on Arab territory is nearby, not the other way around. ‘
He accused Israel of not portraying itself as a ‘small, endangered country, surrounded by bloody assassins who want to destroy it from existence’.
‘And yet they admit that they want to be friends with Saudi Arabia,’ he said.
He also described a history of the eviction of Palestinians and the destruction of cities.
Prince Turki al-Faisal has voiced opposition to the recognition of Israel, describing it as the ‘last western settlement power in the Middle East’
Palestinians have been detained ‘in concentration camps under the fastest security charges – young and old, women and men, who are rotting there without getting justice,’ he said.
Prince Turki shared the remarks with Israeli and Bahraini foreign ministers.
The Arab Peace Campaign, negotiated in 2002, says the Arab League will recognize Israel if a Palestinian state is established.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is thought to have moved to Saudi Arabia in recent months amid growing talks between the countries
Markets called Abraham Accords, with help across the line from the Trump administration, have helped to normalize relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain.
The deal was welcomed in the U.S., as it looked to reunite in the Middle East as tensions escalated with Iran.
Tensions are said to be growing between Saudi Arabia and Palestine, as another former royal cousin, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, said: ‘We are on our borders with these people.
The Trump administration helped secure the Abraham Accords, which saw Bahrain and the UAE formally recognize Israel. The outgoing U.S. president is pictured with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
When asked if he had traveled to Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said: ‘Are you serious? Friends, I have never mentioned such things and I do not intend to start now. ‘
But Yoav Gallant, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, told Army Radio: ‘The meeting was a reality, and was made public, even though it was currently semi-official. ‘
Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz, in a speech, criticized ‘careless leakage of the secret flight to Saudi Arabia’.