Netanyahu eyeing normalization with Saudi Arabia amid increased raids on Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia, claiming such a move could end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Speaking to Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya on Thursday, Netanyahu claimed a new “peace initiative” is needed to change the region for the better.

“I think we can have a new peace initiative that will form a quantum leap for the achievement of the resolution of both the Arab-Israeli conflict and ultimately, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” 

“And of course, I’m referring to what could be a truly remarkable historic peace with Saudi Arabia,” he said, claiming that a normalization deal, like those signed with other Arab states, would “change our region in ways that are unimaginable.”

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in an event in Washington in September 2020. Sudan and Morocco followed suit later that year. Palestinians have condemned the deals as a treacherous “stab in the back.”

Saudi Arabia claims it would only normalize ties upon the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. However, the regimes have been fraternizing for years.

Israeli plane lands in Saudi capital as Tel Aviv, Riyadh beat drums of normalization

Israeli plane reportedly lands in the Saudi capital as both Tel Aviv and Riyadh beat drums of “normalization.”

In 2020, Netanyahu reportedly paid a secret visit to Riyadh, meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The same year saw the two sides opening their “airspaces” to flights. The first Israeli flight to the Saudi capital took place in October 2021.

The push for normalization comes amid increased attacks against the Palestinians in the occupied territories in what has been described by the United Nations as the deadliest year for the Palestinians in the West Bank.

In a pre-dawn raid on Friday, Israeli forces arrested four Palestinians across the West Bank.

Three youths were detained after Israeli forces accompanied by sniffer dogs broke into their family homes in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil. Two brothers were among the detainees, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

Some 380 Palestinians, including 41 children and 11 women, have been arrested by Israeli forces in November alone.

Over the course of 2022, Israeli troops have killed more than 210 Palestinians, including more than 50 children, in the West Bank and East al-Quds as well as the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to the United Nations, the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank this year is the highest in 16 years.

Local and international rights groups have condemned Israel’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.

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