The main issue discussed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman in their meeting Monday was the establishment of a joint front against Iran and the nascent administration of President-elect Joe Biden, Saudi officials told Israel Hayom on Monday.
According to high-ranking officials involved in the talks, the Saudis are certain that Biden and his people have already prepared a plan for a new nuclear agreement with the Iranians and want to minimize damage. The officials also said that Riyadh saw Israel as a key ally on the Iranian issue.
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Despite the increasing public warmth between the two countries, the Saudi officials stressed that Riyadh would maintain the current status of its relations with Israel, which is what the crown prince told Netanyahu. Nevertheless, Bin Salman presented Netanyahu with surveys by an internationally-renowned research institute that showed that nearly half of Saudis supported normalizing ties with Israel.
The Saudis are worried that the Bin Salman and other officials could be the targets of sanctions and arrest warrants issued by the Biden administration over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. If that were to happen, Bin Salman told Netanyahu, the Saudis would need Israel's help in dealing with the Americans.
Another subject discussed was the Palestinian question. The Saudis would like to see Israel renew peace talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and agree to the main points of a long-term truce with the Gaza Strip to be brokered by Egypt. Apparently, the Saudis are willing to help supply money to the PA and to Gaza.
Netanyahu and Bin Salman also reportedly discussed Saudi Arabia's concerns about Turkey and the activities of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a number of Turkish charity organizations that are active on and around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In an attempt to check Erdogan's growing influence in the city, Israel will allow the Saudis to operate charity organizations in east Jerusalem. Likewise, Israel will reportedly support the appointment of Saudi representatives to the Muslim Waqf that oversees the Temple Mount.
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