A source connected to the Saudi royal family explained to i24NEWS in an exclusive exchange that they are closely monitoring Israel's upcoming elections and hope that its government will not change.
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The source, who asked to be unnamed, stressed that Saudi Arabia knows and appreciates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and backs his policies with regard to ties to the Gulf states and his high-pressure tactics on Iran.
"[We] ... not only like Netanyahu but love him. He is terrific. He has the necessary charisma and he knows what he is doing. We are really worried the leader of the opposition will replace him, and change things", he said, referring to Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid faction.
i24NEWS contacted Lapid's office for a reaction but was met with a firm, "No comment."
A separate source, similarly connected to the royal family expounded further on Saudi Arabia's preference for Netanyahu. We see him as "the spearhead in the fight against Iran," they maintained.
However, the source stressed that no Saudi Arabian official could say this openly.
"No country will say this publicly, or intervene in the elections of another country, certainly not us, and certainly not now."
Both Saudi sources told i24NEWS that there were a number of issues of particular concern to them; a potential change in government in Israel, in addition to a sharply shifting course in US President Joe Biden's administration compared with his predecessor former President Donald Trump.
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Trump had a close working relationship with the Mohammed Bin Salman-controlled part of the Saudi government. In addition, the former president implemented a maximum pressure campaign on Iran, including the imposition of far-reaching sanctions.
Meanwhile, Biden has already telegraphed his stated desire to return to the 2015 nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew in 2018 and has also implemented a far colder policy toward Riyadh.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
