Saudi message to Israel: Intervention in Syria pushes normalization further away
Saudi Arabia is one of three countries backing the new government in Damascus, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, alongside Turkey and Qatar. In recent months, the Saudis have already conveyed angry messages to the United States over Israel’s actions, and it appears they are now beginning to use the issue as leverage in normalization talks between Riyadh and Jerusalem.
A source from the Saudi royal family told Kan News this week that in recent days, there is a growing belief in Riyadh that “Israel does not want a stable Syria, but rather one that is divided.” The source added: “Normalization is indeed tied to the Palestinian issue, but it seems that Israel now also wants to take control of southern Syria, which will impact normalization with Saudi Arabia as well.”
The royal family source further said that officials in Riyadh believe Israel is not interested in peace but prefers war, and that Israel’s conduct toward Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank is undermining normalization efforts – a message that has been conveyed to the Americans.
At present, it appears that without a security arrangement in Syria that would help stabilize the situation, normalization with Saudi Arabia – which is already distant due to Riyadh’s insistence on a two-state solution – could be pushed even further out of reach.
Kan.org.il is the Hebrew news website of the The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
