MBS referenced this threat to explain why the Israel contract Saudi must include an immediate pathway to Palestinian statehood.
The US-based news website Politico raised speculation that the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince. Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was at risk of assassination over his push for normalization ties with Israel.
The column, written by Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Tosi. Relied on anonymous sources who told her about conversations. That MBS had with members of the US Congress regarding the threats he faced.
MBS, she wrote, referenced this threat to explain why it was important that the deal also include an immediate pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Israel contract trying to push US officials
Israel contract has been opposed to this component of the triad, even as it has embraced the idea of Saudi normalization.
“The Saudi royal has mentioned to members of Congress that he’s putting his life in danger. By pursuing a grand bargain with the US and Israel that includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties,” she wrote.
Salman has “discussed the threats he faces in explaining why any such Israel contract must include a true path to a Palestinian state. Especially now that the war in Gaza has heightened Arab fury toward Israel,” she explained.
“I’ve come to view MBS’ framing of the situation as a clever diplomatic marketing strategy. He’s saying his life is in danger to push US officials to raise pressure on Israel to bend to a deal he likes,” Tosi wrote.
Arguing that you’re putting your neck on the line for a potentially. Epochal deal is certainly a compelling way to get your interlocutors’ attention,” she argued.
“In fairness,” Toosi stated, “It’s probably also true.”
The triad deal had been high on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agenda prior to the Hamas-led October 7 attack. After which it was put on the back burner, and then resurrected.
