Jewish delegation from US visits Saudi to provide impetus to the Saudi-Israel cooperation

Riyadh/Washington: – A US delegation recently visited Saudi Arabia to discuss providing an impetus to the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The delegation included Jewish entrepreneurs and leaders from the United States. Two months ago, Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, visited Saudi Arabia. After that, last month airline services were started between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Cooperation between Israel and the Arab world has been growing, owing to the initiative taken by former US President Donald Trump. So far, four Arab states – the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have signed the historic Abraham Agreement with Israel. Although talks are being held with other Arab countries, Israel and the United States appear to be making special efforts to streamline relations with Saudi Arabia. Last year, the then-Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is said that the meeting took place in the presence of the US Secretary of State.

It was being criticised by the opposition groups that the new US president, Joe Biden, and his administration are not too keen on the Israel-Saudi cooperation. Israel also expressed displeasure with the US policies regarding Saudi Arabia. Against this backdrop, a visit by a US delegation shows that the Biden administration has begun efforts in this matter. Saudi Arabia had invited the 20-member US delegation.

Phil Rosen, an American businessman, known to be close to former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is part of the delegation. Sources informed that the board met six Saudi ministers and representatives of the royal family. Rosen, referring to the Saudi tour, said that the Saudi regime is preparing its citizens for cooperation with Israel. Saudi has realised that Israel is a regional power and can fight against the common enemy, Iran. In such a scenario, it would not be a surprise if relations between the two countries streamlined in the coming months or years.

The Saudi government has held talks on personal levels with the United States to join the Abraham agreement. US businessmen claimed that deals with the UAE and Bahrain were reached only after a nod from Saudi Arabia. A few days ago, former US National Security Adviser Jared Kushner criticised the Biden administration for not being active on the Abraham Agreement. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that Saudi Arabia has put a condition to the United States to streamline relations with Israel if the United States made its policy aggressive against Iran.