Bin Salman Seeking to Normalize Saudi Ties with Israel: Palestinian Figure

TEHRAN (Defapress) –Speaking to Tasnim, Ismail al-Sandawi, aka Abu Mujahid, said whenever a member of the Al Saud dynasty seeks to take the throne, he resorts to unusual initiatives as King Abdullah did in the past.

In 2002, as a Saudi prince, Abdullah raised the issue of recognition of Israel within the 1967 borders and the exchange of ambassadors between Saudi Araba and Israel, he said.

Now bin Salman is seeking to take the same path and do what former president of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, did when he went to the Israeli-occupied territories and addressed the Knesset, the Palestinian figure said.

Saudi Arabia has been the main sponsor of the Arab Peace Initiative, which envisions a so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The kingdom does not officially recognize Israel, but the two sides have widely been reported to have cooperated behind the scenes for years.

In June 2017, bin Salman, 32, replaced his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as the first in line to the Saudi throne.

The young prince then launched a self-promotion campaign meant to consolidate his grip to power, as part of which hundreds of royals and high-profile business man were arrested and tortured over “corruption” charges. Most of them were later released under hefty cash settlements with Riyadh.

Bin Slaman has also tried to portray himself as a “reformist” and advocate of women’s rights by introducing a string of economic and social changes.

Under bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, the kingdom has stepped up its overtures towards Israel.

During his tour of the US back in April, bin Salman said like Palestinians, Israelis had the “right” to have “their own homeland.”

message end/