MBS Caused More Discord Within the Royal Family

Le Monde newspaper revealed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is causing further Discord and conflict in the ruling family regarding normalization with Israel.

The French newspaper Le Monde said that while bin Salman wooed Israel, his father, King Salman’s surroundings, clung to the Palestinian cause.

The newspaper published a report under the title: Normalization with Israel Divides the Ruling Family in Saudi Arabia and raises Discord.

Differences in Family Positions

The newspaper pointed to the sharp attack launched by the former head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, against Israel.
During his participation in the Manama Dialogue via video communication technology, on the sixth of this month.

He described Israel as the “Western colonial power” that demolishes homes as it pleases and assassinates whomever they want.

Al-Faisal’s attack on Israel came a few days after a secret meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bin Salman.

The meeting was held in the city of NEOM in Saudi Arabia, in the presence of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Doesn’t stand for himself only

Le Monde highlighted Al-Faisal’s affiliation with one of the most respected branches within the House of Saud, and his remarkable record of service gave his words great weight.

This explains Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi’s response, who also participated in the Manama Dialogue, saying that he feels “sorry” for the statements of the former Saudi official.

Before that – Le Monde explains – Prince Bandar bin Sultan, 71, was the former Saudi ambassador to Washington.

On the second of last October, he delivered a speech that had an opposite flavour to Prince Turki Al-Faisal’s speech.

In an interview with Saudi Arabia, Prince Bandar harshly criticized the Palestinian leadership, saying that it had systematically missed peace opportunities.

An explicit contradiction that highlights the Discord

This contradiction, which was considered very sensitive regarding normalization, was considered by Le Monde to confirm the current division within the ruling family.

Bandar’s statements, which were widely covered by the kingdom’s media, were linked to bin Salman.

The newspaper indicated that bin Salman doubles his warmth towards Israel, which gives the impression of his readiness to recognize the State of Israel.

A generation Gap

Hussein Ibish, a researcher at the Washington Institute, was quoted by the newspaper as saying: ‘There is a generation gap, but there is also a very complex equation.’

“Turki Al-Faisal’s statements remind us that Saudi Arabia is neither the Emirates nor Bahrain.”

“Given the overall Islamic responsibilities, the kingdom has unique concerns,” he said.

“Rapid normalization with Israel may damage the kingdom’s image in the Islamic world and endanger this great financial wealth.”