Arab affairs commentator Zvi Yehezkeli explained on i24NEWS why, in his view, US President Donald Trump's announcement of intent to sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia is troubling - but not highly worrying.
"There is a rule that says that if one state wants to draw closer to another - and that is Saudi Arabia's interest - they will do so without the whole benefits package of F-35s and nuclear energy. Bin Salman came to the White House after he had been seen as 'a criminal' in the eyes of the previous regime and was considered someone who would not be received at the White House. This is a historic visit that shows Trump came to do business with him," Yehezkeli began.
He noted, "We need to look at this from a business perspective. Trump also positions the United States as a beneficiary from a series of deals and trade agreements. For us the issue of F-35 aircraft is important. It is not a critical matter because it will not be delivered immediately."
Yehezkeli stressed, "Saudi Arabia still has not decided where it stands. People around the world like Bin Salman because he is implementing reforms, bringing singers to Jeddah and allowing women to drive. In the Middle Eastern arena Bin Salman is not considered strong. He failed to subdue the Houthis, folded before the Iranians, retreated from normalization and he does not want a Palestinian state. The Saudis call the Palestinians 'traitors'. He is not a leader with a backbone and we should watch what will happen in Saudi Arabia in the future."
"The F-35 is a risk, but not too great. A nuclear reactor under US oversight can also be understood. The question is what Bin Salman wants regarding the Palestinian issue and normalization with Israel. He is playing with this and will not give it away quickly - because he holds the card. I would prefer they not draw closer to us if they do not really want to, and that they not put us at risk. Saudi Arabia does not endanger us, but as a country that asked us to attack Iran, we would have expected them to be more accommodating. Still, in our neighborhood there is no niceness; everything is driven by interests," he concluded.