Normalization with Saudi Arabia is a top priority for the new Israeli government

The far right-wing Israeli government agreed not to obstruct any efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement of normalization with Saudi Arabia.

The Times of Israel newspaper stated that normalization with Saudi Arabia represents one of Netanyahu’s most important goals since the signing of the historic Abraham Accords with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in September 2020, as he has stated several times since then.

And while Morocco and Sudan joined the accords later, Saudi Arabia was hesitant. It was widely reported that the Saudis maintain secret relations with Tel Aviv.

Although Netanyahu had secretly travelled to the country to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh has insisted publicly that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians is a “demand” for any normalization agreement.

However, Netanyahu remains optimistic about the possibility of reaching such a deal with Saudi Arabia, and his political partners understand that, according to Hebrew Channel 12.

The report said that there was an understanding between Netanyahu and right-wing lawmakers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich not to sabotage any effort to normalize relations with the Saudis.

For example, the unsourced report cited the vague wording of Netanyahu’s agreement in principle to push for West Bank annexation as part of a coalition deal with Smotrich, the head of the far-right religious Zionist party.

The agreement was worded to allow Netanyahu to take no action on the issue if he chose to do so.

The report said that Smotrich realizes that such a scenario depends on the approval of the United States, which would only be possible under a Republican president.

And she hinted that he might remain quiet for the time to allow Netanyahu to make overtures to Riyadh.

The second example given is Ben Gvir’s statement that although he wanted to introduce bills that would give security forces immunity from prosecution and more flexible open-fire rules, he also agreed to abide by international law—another apparent agreement not to break the boat.

The report also claimed that the far-right would not press excessively to “put the Israeli flag on the Temple Mount” despite their fiery language about Israeli rights at the compound.

According to the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, partners in Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc said they “will not stand in the way of normalization efforts with the Saudis.”

Netanyahu’s promise to promote annexation policies in the West Bank is part of his coalition agreement with the “religious Zionist Party,” which has not yet been published or finalized, according to the Israeli newspaper, The Jerusalem Post.