US Senator Graham Calls for Israel-Saudi Normalization by Year’s End During Jerusalem Visit

US Senator Lindsey Graham called on Tuesday for Saudi Arabia and Israel to finalize a diplomatic normalization agreement by the end of 2024, warning that the next US administration may face difficulties securing enough Senate votes for the deal. Speaking in Jerusalem, Graham urged swift action while President Joe Biden is still in office, as his term ends in January.

The Biden administration has been working to broker a historic accord that would not only establish formal ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia but also include US security guarantees for the Gulf state. "We can get you a treaty through the Senate... if you do it on President Biden's watch," Graham emphasized, pointing to the difficulty of garnering the two-thirds Senate majority required for such a treaty under a new administration.

Graham, a key Republican figure in foreign policy and national security, expressed his optimism after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss the potential agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and will also meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

While Saudi Arabia has indicated interest in normalizing ties with Israel, it has repeatedly linked any agreement to a pathway toward a Palestinian state. This has become an increasingly complex issue following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which prompted ongoing conflict in Gaza. Graham acknowledged that the Israeli public is unlikely to accept a two-state solution following such violence. "The two-state solution is dead after the October 7 attack," he said, but added that Israel could still work with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on addressing the Palestinian issue.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has long advocated for normalization with Saudi Arabia, calling it a potential "historic reconciliation" between the Arab world and Israel, as well as between Islam and Judaism. Israel currently maintains diplomatic relations with several Arab and Muslim-majority states, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco.

As the window for action narrows, Graham’s push for a deal before the year’s end highlights the significance of this potential agreement for both regional stability and US-Israel-Saudi relations.

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