A report from the U.S.-based publication Politico claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) faces an assassination risk due to his efforts to normalize ties with Israel.
The report states that MBS told members of the U.S. Congress that by pursuing a major agreement involving the U.S. and Israel, which includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties, he is endangering his life.
According to Politico, MBS referenced the assassination of Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, who was killed after signing a peace deal with Israel, questioning, “What did the U.S. do to protect him?”
He also discussed the threats he faces, emphasizing that any deal should include a genuine path to a Palestinian state, particularly as the Gaza conflict has intensified Arab anger towards Israel.
The report notes that the details of MBS’s conversation were revealed to Politico by a former U.S. official who was briefed on the discussions, along with two other sources familiar with the matter.
Despite the dangers, the crown prince remains committed to pursuing the significant deal with the U.S. and Israel, seeing it as vital for Saudi Arabia’s future, the report says.
However, the report also mentions that the Israeli government has been reluctant to include a credible path to a Palestinian state in the agreement.
Earlier this year, during a significant Israeli offensive in Gaza, Saudi Arabia informed the U.S. that its position remains unchanged: there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and Israeli “aggression” in Gaza ceases, according to a statement from the Saudi foreign ministry.
Prior to this, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby had mentioned that the Biden administration had received positive signals that Saudi Arabia and Israel were open to continuing normalization talks.
In response, the Saudi government reiterated its unwavering stance on the Palestinian issue following Kirby’s comments, as stated by the ministry.
