Saudi Arabia

Iran’s Ayatollahs bully the US

The are doing that by destabilizing Saudi Arabia which is already frustrated by the US State Department's attitude towards Iran. Opinion.

Report:

Saudi Crown Prince fears being killed over Israel normalization

Mohammed bin Salman reportedly tells US lawmakers he fears being killed as Anwar Sadat was if he normalizes relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

State Department confirms:

US to resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia

The ban was imposed in 2021 amid concerns about the toll of the Saudi-led war against the Houthis in Yemen.

Biden to lift ban on sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia

Sources say Biden has decided to lift a ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a three-year-old policy, amid tensions in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabian official:

'Haniyeh elimination a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty'

In first remarks by a Saudi official on Haniyeh elimination, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister says it was a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty.

Report:

Efforts towards normalization with Saudi Arabia officially paused

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused efforts to achieve normalization deal with Saudi Arabia until after US elections, report says.

Houthi leader warns Saudis:

'Don't collaborate with the US, Israel and Britain'

In recently televised address, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddine Al-Houthi warned against Saudi Arabia’s “collaboration” with the United States, Israel, and Britain in implementing measures to close Sanaa’s banks, airport, and seaport.

US, Israeli officials:

'Saudi normalization not realistic until after US election'

American and Israeli officials familiar tell Ynet that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not a realistic possibility until after the US presidential elections in November.

Palestinian Arab vs. Saudi education - ignored by Foggy Bottom

Both the UAE and the Saudis have toned down their educational messages about Israel, while the PA has only made them worse. The State Dept doesn't seem to care. Op-ed.

UK Labour candidate:

'If we win the election, we will stop arms sales to Israel'

Fabian Hamilton, a candidate with Britain’s Labour Party, tells attendees at an event in a mosque that his party will stop arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia if it wins this week's election.

Mecca:

14 Jordanians dead, 17 missing at annual pilgrimage

According to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, the pilgrims died as a result of heatstroke as temperatures in the Saudi city are expected to reach 116 F.

Report:

US, Saudi Arabia closing in on mutual defense deal

US and Saudi officials told WSJ that the deal is close to being finalized, but US approval may depend on it being tied to Israel-Saudi normalization, for which Saudis demand Israeli commitment to a Palestinian state.

Senator Graham to Arutz Sheva:

'I want to wake America up, we have no better friend than Israel'

Senator Lindsey Graham receives Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Prize: 'Everybody wants to kill all the Jews, so now's the time for people in the US to circle the wagons. Speak up, speak out. We're next.'

US official:

'Deal between US and Saudi Arabia is pretty much there'

Senior US official says the US and Saudi Arabia have a “near final set” of bilateral agreements in place, but a broader deal with Israel is not close yet.

US national security adviser:

'Saudi defense pact not possible without Israel deal'

National security adviser Jake Sullivan says defense agreement with Saudi Arabia goes hand-in-hand with the kingdom and Israel normalizing ties: You can’t disentangle one piece from the others.

Normalization with Saudi Arabia

Deal to include five-year 'pathway' to Palestinian state

US, Saudi Arabia, may sign deal on condition that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel the moment Israel's government is willing to agree to a Palestinian state along the 1948 borders.

State Department:

'We're close to agreement on security pact with Saudis'

US officials say Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are finalizing agreement for US security guarantees which would be part of broader agreement which includes Israeli-Saudi normalization.

Saudi Arabia takes action against Israel defamers online

Saudi Arabia has launched a wave of arrests of citizens who attacked Israel and identified with Hamas on social networks amid the Gaza war.

Report

Saudis warned Israel: Rafah op will harm chances of normalization

A source in the Saudi royal family said that Israel must make sacrifices for peace to create a regional alliance with the Arab nations and that there will be no normalization without a Palestinian state.

Blinken:

Hamas has to decide quickly on 'very generous' deal

US Secretary of State says a lot of progress has been made towards normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, presses for hostage deal at World Economic Forum in Riyadh

Report:

US pressing Netanyahu to accept PA state for normalization

According to the report in return for recognizing Israel, the White House is offering the Saudis a more formal defense relationship with Washington, assistance in acquiring civil nuclear power, and a renewed push for a Palestinian state.

Israeli message of reassurance:

Any reaction against Iran will not endanger Arab countries

Israel conveyed a message to the countries in the region, that any retaliation for the Iranian attack, would not endanger their stability and regimes.

US to Arab countries:

'Tell Iran to de-escalate tensions with Israel'

US Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, reportedly asks foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iraq to deliver a message to Iran urging it to lower tensions with Israel.

Report:

Despite Gaza war, talks on normalization with Saudi Arabia

During an upcoming trip to the US, Min. Ron Dermer will meet Saudi Arabia's US ambassador, discuss potential normalization deal, report says. Dermer's office has denied the report.

In push for mega deal:

Biden adviser to visit Saudi Arabia, meet MBS

Report: White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia, meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a potential mega-deal that would include Saudi normalization with Israel.

Blinken:

'Good progress on Israel-Saudi normalization'

US Secretary of State says the United States and Saudi Arabia have made "good progress" in talks on normalizing ties between the kingdom and Israel.

Saudi Arabia announces funding for UNRWA

Saudi Arabia says it will provide $40 million in funding to UNRWA that will provide food and tents.

Saudi Arabia:

'Incident involving rabbi's kippah was unfortunate'

Saudi Arabia says incident in which Rabbi Abraham Cooper was asked to remove his kippah was a result of a "misunderstanding of internal protocols."

In Saudi Arabia:

US rabbi asked to remove kippah

US delegation on religious freedom cuts short its visit to Saudi Arabia after one of its members asked to remove his kippah.

Saudi King:

'Stop crimes against our brothers in Palestine'

Saudi King denounces “heinous crimes” in the Gaza Strip in statement ahead of Ramadan.

Blinken to Saudi FM:

'US committed to two-state solution'

US Secretary of State reiterates the Biden administration’s commitment to a Palestinian state in conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister.

Saudi Arabia denies its minister met Barkat

Saudi Arabia denies a meeting took place between its commerce minister and Economy Minister Nir Barkat, even though a viral video showed their interaction.

Saudi Foreign Minister:

'Recognition of a Palestinian state not enough'

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan says normalization with Israel requires both an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state.

PM reportedly considering:

Palestinian state in exchange for Saudi recognition?

A new report claims that Prime Minister Netanyahu will agree with US recognition of a Palestinian state in exchange for breakthroughs in negotiations with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia clarifies:

'No normalization without Palestinian state'

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry clarifies its position after White House says that Saudi Arabia and Israel are willing to continue to have normalization discussions.

Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince discuss Gaza war

The US Secretary of State is on a trip to the Middle East which will include a stop in Israel.

Report:

Saudis could make concessions on Palestinian state

Saudi officials reportedly told US counterparts they would not insist that Israel take concrete steps to create a Palestinian state as part of normalization pact.

Liberman:

'Netanyahu wants peace with Saudis and to retire'

According to MK Avigdor Liberman, the Prime Minister wants to have a deal with Saudi Arabia by October, and for the US to be part of the deal before the elections it has to happen by June.

Saudi normalization deal in exchange for end of war?

New proposal for prisoner swap offers promise of Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization - if Israel agrees not to dismantle Hamas.

What could go wrong?

After all, Israel signed the Oslo Accords, left Gaza, signed a peace treaty with the country that allowed Hamas to smuggle weaponry into Gaza, and reduced the size of the IDF, so why not give Blinken's plan a try? Satire.

Saudi diplomat:

'We're still interested in normalization after war'

Saudi ambassador to the UK says a deal to normalize kingdom's relations with Israel was close, but put on hold after October 7, normalization cannot come at expense of Palestinian Arabs.

Blinken:

'Saudi Arabia has clear interest in normalization'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses Saudi-Israel normalization during meeting with Saudi Crown Prince.

Sen. Graham praises Biden's efforts for Israel-Saudi ties

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says October 7 should be used as a catalyst to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

UAE suspends funding to rebuild Gaza

The UAE has declared it will support the Gaza Strip only if the USA commits to a two-state solution.

Report:

Saudis ask US to show restraint in response to Houthi attacks

According to two sources familiar with Saudi thinking, the Saudis wish to prevent further escalation.

Saudi Crown Prince:

Release all hostages, cease fighting immediately

At summit of Arab leaders, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman calls for 'release of hostages and prisoners,' cessation of fighting in Gaza.

Saudi minister:

Normalization dependent on solution to 'Palestinian' conflict

Normalization agreement with Israel 'was on the table, remains on the table,' Saudi Arabia's Investment Min. Khalid Al-Falih says.

Saudi Foreign Minister:

'Normalization deal with Israel still a possibility'

Saudi Foreign Minister says talks on normalization will resume immediately after the conclusion of the war in Gaza.

Report: Saudi Arabia intercepted missile launched from Yemen

One of the five missiles fired from Yemen towards Israel was intercepted by Saudi Arabia, WSJ reports.

Saudi analyst:

'Hamas will not free Palestine with its paragliders'

Abdulrahman al-Rashed writes that it is hard to understand why Hamas would launch an attack that would spell the end of the organization.

Sources:

Saudi Arabia puts talks with Israel on hold amid war

Saudi Arabia is putting US-backed plans to normalize ties with Israel on ice, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters.

The Alternative To A Saudi Bomb

We don’t have the luxury of time to wait for a successful popular uprising to remove the Ayatollahs from power

Report:

Environmental Protection Minister planning Saudi Arabia visit

Minister Idit Silman plans to visit Saudi Arabia next week, becoming the latest Israeli minister to do so.

Don't give the Saudis the bomb!

The solution is to take out Iran, not foster regional proliferation. Op-ed.

Saudi Pro-Israel blogger missing

Mohammed Saud's whereabouts have been unknown since the beginning of the week.

Report:

Senior Biden advisers quietly visited Saudi Arabia

Axios report: Senior Biden advisers visited Saudi Arabia last week to continue talks on potential normalization deal.

Senators to Biden:

'No to defense treaty with Saudi Arabia as part of Israel deal'

20 senators from Democratic Party write to Biden, call for Israel-Saudi deal to preserve "two-state solution".

Communications Minister Karhi addresses Saudi audience in Arabic

Shlomo Karhi addressed ministers from all over the world today at an international media conference in Saudi Arabia.

Minister Karhi to INN:

'We're making history here in Saudi Arabia'

The Israeli Communications Minister who is visiting Riyadh recounts the warm treatment he received from the Saudis.

Jason Greenblatt:

Deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia on promising path

Trump's Special Representative for International Negotiations describes the changes that Saudi Arabia has undergone in recent years.