Amidst the Gaza conflict, Arab nations have been notably silent on Israel's retaliation against Hamas. The recent Arab-OIC summit called for aid to Gaza but also demanded a halt to arms exports to Israel. Israel is reportedly sharing its plans for a buffer zone with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and even Saudi Arabia. The potential Israeli-Saudi rapprochement, facilitated by a US-brokered deal, could mark a historic shift, though Saudi Arabia previously linked normalization to substantial action on the Palestinian issue. Riyadh, eyeing its economic goals, may play a financial role in a UN-approved transitional administration for Gaza. However, Saudi Arabia now prioritizes investment opportunities over mere cash dumps. As discussions between Israel and Saudi Arabia resume, the conflict in Gaza remains a barrier to their deal.
Key Points
1. The Arab nations have remained notably silent on Israel's actions against Hamas, despite global concern for Gaza in the aftermath of the conflict.
2. The recent Arab-OIC summit did not justify the Gaza war but called for aid to enter the region while demanding a cessation of arms exports to Israel.
3. Israel has shared plans with Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE to create a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of the Gaza border to prevent future attacks.
4. Saudi Arabia, which halted the normalization process with the U.S. after the Gaza war, is reportedly aware of Israel's plans, signaling a departure from traditional Arab mediators.
5. Despite condemning Israel's offensive, no Arab state has shown interest in administering Gaza in the future.
6. A potential U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be groundbreaking and align the latter with America's security interests.
7. There are speculations that concerns about an Israeli-Saudi rapprochement may have influenced Hamas' October 7 attack.
8. Saudi Arabia faces a dilemma as it had earlier suggested that Israel must address the Palestinian issue for normalization, aligning with its long-term goal of a stable Middle East and strong ties with the U.S.
9. Saudi Arabia might play a financial role in a UN-approved transitional administration for Gaza, but it prefers investment opportunities over cash dumps.
10. While historical events like the 1973 Arab-Israeli War impacted Saudi-U.S. ties, the current discussions between Israel and Saudi Arabia may face obstacles as long as the conflict in Gaza persists.
(With Agency Inputs)
