The Saudis are unpredictable. Amid moves toward reform in Saudi Arabia, Turkey has been become more prominent as the exporter of militant Islam worldwide. Yet how much Saudi Arabia has really reformed is an open question: recently the Saudis condemned the “offensive” cartoons of Muhammad in wake of the beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty, but it did not condemn his beheading.
The Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, has stated since August that there will be no deal with Israel “without peace with the Palestinians,” which would include Israel’s return to the pre-1967 borders (“the Auschwitz borders”).
And now:
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has denied that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the Gulf kingdom on Sunday to secretly meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “No such meeting occurred,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud tweeted.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also said to be in that meeting. He “tweeted that he held constructive talks with Prince Mohammed in Neom and posted a photograph showing them together.”
Whatever meeting may or may not have taken place, Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud reiterated that Saudi Arabia “would wait until there was a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians” before considering normalization with Israel. The ongoing problem with that is the fact that the Palestinians seek the complete destruction of Israel and have never recognized its right to exist as a Jewish state.
“Saudi Arabia denies crown prince held ‘secret meeting’ with Israeli PM,” BBC, November 23, 2020:
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has denied that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the Gulf kingdom on Sunday to secretly meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“No such meeting occurred,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud tweeted.
Mr Netanyahu has declined to comment on the Israeli reports that he was on board a private jet that travelled from Tel Aviv to the Red Sea city of Neom.
It would be the first known meeting between leaders of the historical foes.
US President Donald Trump has been pressing them to normalise relations after brokering deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan in recent months.
Saudi Arabia cautiously welcomed those moves, but indicated it would wait until there was a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Also on Monday, a delegation of senior Israeli officials travelled to Sudan on what would also be the first such visit to a formerly hostile country, an unnamed Israeli official confirmed. The countries are expected to map out areas of co-operation.
Citing unnamed Israeli sources, Israeli public broadcaster Kan and other media earlier reported that Mr Netanyahu and the head of the Mossad intelligence service, Yossi Cohen, attended talks in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening with Crown Prince Mohammed and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A senior Saudi adviser told the Wall Street Journal that the leaders discussed several issues, including normalisation of ties and Iran, but that no substantial agreements were reached.
However, the Saudi foreign minister later denied that any Israeli officials had attended the meeting between Prince Mohammed and Mr Pompeo.
“The only officials present were American and Saudi,” Prince Faisal said.
The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who is in Riyadh, says senior Saudi officials are denying this highly sensitive story, on and off the record.
This has long been a matter of very delicate diplomacy for the kingdom, which has taken an awkward, if not embarrassing, turn, she adds.
Mr Pompeo meanwhile tweeted that he held constructive talks with Prince Mohammed in Neom and posted a photograph showing them together.
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Infidel says
Think Saudi Arabia is preparing just in case Biden is the one sworn in: they want to avoid a situation where they are less pro-Palestinian than even the US. If Trump gets sworn in, I think they’ll be happy to be next
Rarely says
“If Trump gets sworn in…”
Ever see an elephant fly?
VarAway says
I sincerely think you are in for a BIG surprise!
Rarely says
Some people didn’t get the memo.
Others just live in Lala land.
Infidel Pride says
More importantly, since he hasn’t conceded and there are still live court challenges, it’s worth considering both options until either one condedes, or SCOTUS decides in favor of the other
Rarely says
The fat lady has sung. We’re just waiting for some people to get the cotton out of their ears.
Even Yogi Berra has gone to the showers.
Will Tyson says
British police are going to wear the Hijab
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/north-yorkshire-police-celebrating-inclusivity-after-announcing-incorporation-hijab-officers-uniforms-3046952
gravenimage says
Yes–disgusting.
Wellington says
You might have to work with the Saudis but it would be foolhardy in the extreme to ever trust the Saudis.
gravenimage says
Yes.
St. Croix says
Things can change quickly there. MBS favours progress, however, many within the country, the elite, and the rather large royal family, want him dead. You can see the factions not in agreement there and contradicting reports coming out of there.
underbed cat says
Wellington agree, our enemy is gaining power thru migration/ Islamic population equals votes to bring sharia law to America it a clever conquest method ,so why does it seem to be aided by the deep state actors and their threatened status, hanging on to profitable power, ignoring the danger/ hiding their collusion of fools, while deceiving and omitting doctrine and information. Free speech denied for sharia and truth classified as hate speech. How they have been so effective is almost as clever as the Binden strategy, was the plan to stay low, sound sincere , sound nice, hide secrets, win with organized tech group action and time frame send out mail ballots flood tricks. Covid perfect solution, ballots, ballots ballot and money to send out through out America and a team to gather in the important states. Again clever enough by plausible deniablility………unless someone good with numbers can expose the coupe.
“Evolution “of lab viruses to fight global warming bad idea. Burning forests and putting people in danger way stupid and a little contradictory. Ambitions, and mobs, seems too organized, revolutionary and like third world dictatorships…growing inside America dumbed down by sheep skin educated the other deep state. Could be.
mortimer says
Excellent comments from Christine D-W: “The Saudis are unpredictable”.
They are not only unpredictable, but jihadist to the core.
gravenimage says
Saudi Arabia denies secret meeting with Netanyahu and Pompeo, says no normalization with Israel without Palestinians
……………….
I’m just sick of the Saudi’s bs. I’m happy they aren’t attacking Israel right now, but they are never going to be her allies.
underbed cat says
It should shock no one hear that when Saudi Arabia speaks, the lense is sharia….what is heard within is different than what is publically stated…..unless they deny the Quran, not likely. To trust with out knowledge would be to deny reality and history.
OLD GUY says
Saudi Arabia can not be trusted.