diplomacy
Saudi Arabia rapprochement with Israel? USA dampens expectations
The USA is Israel’s protecting power and also an important ally for Saudi Arabia. photo
© Oded Ballilty/AP/dpa/Symbolbild
A US media report about a possible rapprochement between the two countries caused a stir. But the discussions are not that advanced, according to Washington.
The US government has raised expectations regarding a possible rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel subdued. “The bottom line is that there is no agreed package deal. There is no agreed framework to codify normalization or other security considerations,” said National Security Council communications director John Kirby.
However, the US government has committed itself to dialogue. “There is a broad consensus that we will continue to talk,” Kirby said.
The “Wall Street Journal” had previously reported, citing US government circles, that the US and Saudi Arabia had agreed in principle on the outlines of a corresponding agreement. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel in return for US security guarantees and help in setting up a civilian nuclear program. Israel would have to make comprehensive concessions to the Palestinians. Kirby said: “I think that the coverage has given some the impression that the discussions are more advanced (…) than they actually are.”