Efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are not dead, even as war quotas between Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas, President Biden told 60 Minutes last week.
“The Saudis, the Emiratis and other Arab countries perceive that their security and stability are enhanced by normalization with Israel,” Biden told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley.
The U. S. is bidding for a deal that would normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. As a component of the deal, the U. S. would offer Riyadh a defense treaty and assistance to expand its own civilian nuclear program. Details of the deal were first reported via The New York Times.
In light of the conflict, sources close to Riyadh say Saudi Arabia is postponing Israeli normalization efforts and beginning to engage with Iran. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held talks on Wednesday, as Saudi Arabia said it was seeking to salvage escalating violence in the region. It is the first contact between bin Salman and Raisi since China brokered a deal to repair relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March.
In the 60 Minutes interview, Biden told Pelley that the deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel would go ahead.
“Look, it’s going to take some time,” Mr. Biden. “It’s going to take time. But the orientation toward normalization makes sense for both Arab nations and Israel. “