US Senator Graham Pushes for Israel-Saudi Normalization by Year’s End

During a visit to Jerusalem on Tuesday, US Senator Lindsey Graham called for Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties by the end of 2024, cautioning that the next US administration might face challenges securing enough Senate votes for the deal. Graham, a prominent Republican with significant influence on foreign policy, stressed the importance of striking a defense agreement under President Joe Biden's term, which ends in January.

Speaking to reporters, Graham emphasized that a treaty between the US and Saudi Arabia, modeled after defense pacts with Japan and Australia, could pass through the Senate if completed before Biden leaves office. "The next president will have a tough time getting 67 votes," he warned, referencing the two-thirds Senate majority required to approve such agreements.

Graham, who is close to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. He plans to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and to the UAE to meet President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, and Saudi Arabia has hinted at a willingness to follow suit, provided that the agreement includes steps toward resolving the Palestinian issue.

However, the pathway to normalization has become more complicated since the war with Hamas erupted. While Netanyahu’s government has long rejected the notion of a two-state solution, Riyadh has consistently linked the establishment of diplomatic relations to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Despite the challenges, Graham remains optimistic that Israel and Saudi Arabia can reach an understanding. "The two-state solution is dead after the October 7 Hamas attack," he said, acknowledging that the Israeli public views a Palestinian state as a reward for terrorism. However, he suggested that Israel could still collaborate with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the Palestinian issue, even without pursuing full statehood.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has long advocated for diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, which he believes would mark a "historic reconciliation" between the Arab world and Israel, as well as between Islam and Judaism. Currently, Israel maintains diplomatic relations with several Arab or Muslim-majority countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco.

As regional dynamics evolve, the next few months could prove crucial for Israel-Saudi relations, with Graham pushing hard to finalize the deal before the political landscape in Washington changes.

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