The US-based news website Politico has sparked speculation about the safety of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman due to his efforts to normalize ties with Israel. According to Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi, MBS has expressed concerns about assassination threats he’s received, particularly in relation to the proposed deal including an immediate pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Despite Israel’s reluctance towards Palestinian statehood, they have shown support for Saudi normalization. Toosi suggests that MBS’s strategy may involve leveraging his perceived risk to push US officials to pressure Israel to accept a deal he favors. The triad deal was initially a priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before being halted by recent conflicts and then revisited.
US President Joe Biden had hoped to advance the deal post-Gaza ceasefire, but ongoing clashes have hindered progress. The Senate is considered the best chance to pass the deal, however, Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah have complicated matters. Although Netanyahu didn’t mention the Saudi deal in a recent address to Congress, discussions were held with Biden during their White House meeting the following day.