In an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, referring to the news published about the efforts to normalize the relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia, as well as the statements of the Saudi Foreign Minister that this country will not deal with the issue of normalization without the formation of a Palestinian state, Arash Saffar stated that in recent years, news of the behind-the-scenes meetings between Saudi officials and the Zionist regime has been published repeatedly; Among the talks that Netanyahu had in his previous administration with the Saudi Crown Prince on the sidelines of a meeting; But now Netanyahu is focusing on several issues, including the success in normalizing relations with Arab countries, considering the state of the Zionist regime and the shaky cabinet and his corruption case.

He pointed to the signing of the Abraham Accords and the importance of Saudi Arabia in this regard for the Zionist regime and said that Netanyahu is trying to establish official relations with Riyadh and the frequent publication of news about the normalization of relations between the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia in the Zionist media is done with such an approach and necessarily does not mean the occurrence of new developments that can change the geopolitics of the region.

This analyst of West Asian issues stated that Riyadh’s position regarding the normalization of relations with the Zionist regime has not changed and explained that the Saudis have announced the formation of an independent Palestinian state with East Quds as its capital. In fact, they were the originators of this plan that was presented in 2002. This plan was first called “King Abdullah’s” peace plan, which was later named “Arab Peace Plan” with the approval of the Arab League. Saudi Arabia has more restrictions than the UAE and any other country in the Arab world to establish relations with the Zionist regime; Because Saudi Arabia was the initiator of this plan.

Referring to the political developments after the signing of agreements to normalize relations between some Arab governments and the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on adhering to the conditions announced in King Abdullah’s peace plan, Saffar continued that with these conditions, there will be no change in Saudi Arabia’s policy towards the Zionist regime. Saudi Arabia has no enmity with the Zionist regime and security relations and intelligence cooperation between them will continue, but this will not mean the formation of diplomatic relations between them.

Stating that the Zionist regime has not taken any measures to show its seriousness about establishing relations with Saudi Arabia, he added that Saudis will act on their precondition for normalizing relations with the Zionist regime based on the principles they have announced. Saudi Arabia is not a country that can easily carry out normalization like the UAE, and this issue does not necessarily relate to its internal issues.

This expert on West Asian issues emphasized that since Saudi Arabia claims to be the so-called leader of the Arab world, it cannot treat the Palestinian issue like Sudan and the UAE.

While explaining the positions and pressures of the US government to create a transformation in the relations between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime, Saffar said that “there will definitely be pressures on Riyadh, but it seems that the foreign policy apparatus of this country is trying not to fall short of the principles of its foreign policy.” Besides, in recent years, the levers of pressure of the United States on Saudi Arabia do not work as before, and Riyadh has been able to increase its maneuvering power with the policies it has adopted.

He added that assuming that Netanyahu and the Likud party want to move toward normalization with Saudi Arabia even by making concessions regarding the Palestinian issue, they are facing internal obstacles in Tel Aviv. The cabinet, which tends to the extreme right and represents the extreme Zionist view, will not allow any movement by the Likud party, and if this party gives any concessions, there is a possibility of the collapse of the cabinet, and the collapse of the cabinet may lead to the termination of the political life of Netanyahu.

Referring to the US effort to justify the authorities and public opinion of Arab countries regarding the current and future actions and policies of the extreme right-wing cabinet in the Zionist regime, this expert on West Asian issues emphasized that repeatedly dealing with the issue of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is a media achievement for Netanyahu and the Likud party. Considering the situation in which Netanyahu finds himself involved, he must have winning cards that he can present to the public opinion. In this period, even Netanyahu’s cabinet will highlight the tough treatment with Iran and will maneuver on this issue to gain legitimacy inside and maintain his cabinet.

Saying that the performance of the Zionist regime government in the past weeks and the issues raised in the Negev meeting showed that the United States is also facing challenges in dealing with this cabinet in the Zionist regime, Saffar said that in fact, there are uncertainties regarding the policies of the new cabinet for Washington as well. It is unresolved and serious, and in this situation, justifying the Arab countries is accompanied by difficulties for the US. In addition, the Zionist regime itself is facing a crisis of social protests due to the policies of the new cabinet.

At the same time, he emphasized that the recent normalization of the relations between some Arab countries and the Zionist regime showed that the Arab society is not the society of Jamal Abdul Nasser’s time and is not as sensitive to the Palestinian issue as it was in the past.

Even though there is still serious nationalistic tendencies in the Arab society, there are not being that much emphasized and like Abdolnaser’s period when no government had the courage to give concessions regarding the Palestinian issue, now we are witnessing the normalization of the relations of four countries with the Zionist regime and nothing has happened in these countries. Therefore, the weight and importance of public opinion in these countries should be reconsidered.