Israel OKs Red Sea islands deal, paving way for Saudi normalization steps

[SAT]

The Israeli government on Thursday approved the parameters of a deal around two strategic Red Sea islands that would pave the way for Saudi Arabia to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel.

Israel OKs Red Sea islands deal, paving way for Saudi normalization steps (axios.com)

But I'm not expecting to much more on normalization as Biden isn't touching a peace process the one thing Saudi Arabia is insisting on. But there has been quiet movement on the Arab NATO side.

Biden denies PA request to call for East Jerusalem as future Palestinian capital | The Times of Israel
Biden tells Abbas unilateral measures must be avoided for talks to work | The Times of Israel

Biden has disappointed the Palestinians by stating during his trip to the region that there are no prospects for Palestinian statehood in the near term. He said at a press conference alongside Abbas that the “ground is not ripe” for restarting peace talks.

Which could be why...

Palestinian Authority President Abbas to meet France’s Macron in Paris - Millennium Weekend Ministries

and he is throwing this out there again

Abbas, who is due to meet Macron on July 20, will also discuss “putting pressure on Israel to provide the appropriate atmosphere for holding the Palestinian elections, specifically in the city of Jerusalem,” a statement read.

At a time polls show the number of Palestinians that support a two state deal and not a "Palestine" is suddenly rising dramatically.
Attitudes are changing in the Arab world, including the Palestinians, which is dangerous for Abbas.

[SAT]

The media is...
Saudi Arabia: Biden set to meet Crown Prince amid criticism - BBC News
jmvho (again lol)
But he needed to take the criticism for Israel's sake and keeping the Middle East Union moving forward. The Union is also important for US glue of the world order. Keeping American presence and power in the middle east.

Reminder from Lamb&lion thread
The Graphic Truth: Who produces the most oil in the world? - GZERO Media

[SAT]

Biden lands in Jeddah, set to announce more Saudi steps toward Israel normalization | The Times of Israel

US President Joe Biden landed in Saudi Arabia Friday evening on what was the first flight by an American leader from Israel to Jeddah for a two-day trip during which efforts to integrate Israel further into the region will feature prominently.

In a press gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Jeddah, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that there would be additional announcements vis-à-vis Israeli-Saudi ties during the visit, which came hours after Riyadh announced that it would open its airspace to all civilian airliners, including Israeli ones.

“We will have things to say on issues related to promoting peace in the region,” Sullivan told reporters.

It's about Israel and the Abraham Accords/the "union".

[SAT]

Kohavi to visit unnamed Arab nation next week in 1st formal trip there by IDF chief | The Times of Israel

Destination barred from publication until Kohavi lands on Monday; nation said to be one with official relations with Israel, including in military matters

The military censor said Friday that the trip could be reported, albeit with restrictions.

The name of the country is to remain barred from publication until Kohavi lands in the Arab nation, on Monday.

[SAT]

“Now as a result of this breakthrough, this island will be open to tourism and economic development while retaining all necessary security arrangements and the present freedom of navigation of all parties, including Israel,” he said.
The White House said “Saudi Arabia has agreed to preserve and continue all existing commitments and procedures in the area,” in an apparent reference to Israel’s role in the agreement.

US to remove Red Sea island observer force, advancing steps toward Saudi-Israel ties | The Times of Israel

[SAT]

Gantz presents Biden with clandestine Israeli-Arab defense pacts - www.israelhayom.com

Amid the backdrop of various reports of a potential diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia during US President Joe Biden's visit to the region, the Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that Israel and Arab countries that are not a part of the Abraham Accords have already signed security agreements.

[SAT]

Poll: Over 90% of Saudi youth see US as 'strong ally' - www.israelhayom.com

An overwhelming majority (92%) of young Saudis, who form about two-thirds of Saudi Arabia's population, see the United States as an ally of their nation, with 59% stating the US is a "strong ally" and 33% citing it as "somewhat of an ally," a recent poll showed.

According to the survey, the perception that the US is an ally of Saudi Arabia is at its highest level in five years. In 2020, 87% of Saudi youth viewed the US as a 'strong ally' or 'somewhat of an ally', an increase in favorability over 2019 when 70% of Saudi youth viewed the US as an ally. In 2018, 50% per cent of Saudi youth viewed the US as an ally.
The symbolism of Biden's arrival in Saudi Arabia, following his first official visit to Israel, will not be lost on young Saudis, three-quarters (75%) of whom believe addressing the "'Palestinian-Israeli conflict" should be a top priority for the Arab world.

[SAT]

reminder
Are West Bank Palestinians moderating their maximalist views somewhat? One poll finds support for ‘regaining historical Palestine, from the river to the sea’ dropping from 66% in 2020 to just 37% - All Arab News

[SAT]

Biden to talk oil, Iran at Arab summit concluding Middle East tour | The Times of Israel

Biden said his trip “is about once again positioning America in this region for the future.

“We are not going to leave a vacuum in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill,” he insisted.

Martin Indyk, distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the increased cooperation between Israel and Arab countries, driven in large part by threats from Iran, is the most important storyline in the Middle East right now.

“Now there’s a much more clear-eyed perception in Washington of the way in which Iran’s ambitions to dominate the region threaten our interests and our allies and partners,” he said.

Under Biden, Indyk said, the U.S. role in the region has been shifting “from being the dominant power in the region that supposedly took care of all the threats. . . {color=navy]to the role of supporting partners and allies in the region.”[/color]

How? Arab NATO???

[SAT]

US, Saudi Arabia agree on stopping Iran getting nuclear weapons - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

The United States and Saudi Arabia agreed on the importance of stopping Iran from "acquiring a nuclear weapon," during a visit by US President Joe Biden, a joint statement carried by the Saudi state news agency (SPA) said.

The statement said Biden also affirmed the United States’ continued commitment to supporting "Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial defense, and facilitating the Kingdom’s ability to obtain necessary capabilities to defend its people and territory against external threats."

[SAT]

]Saudi official: Peace with Israel 'strategic option' but not before 2-state solution | The Times of Israel

A senior Saudi official described normalizing ties with Israel as a “strategic option,” while clarifying that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians was a “requirement” before Riyadh would formalize ties with Jerusalem.