The conservative US network\u2019s interview with the crown prince, widely known as MBS, comes as President Joe Bidens administration presses ahead with an effort to broker historic ties between the two regional powerhouses, Washington\u2019s top Middle East allies.<\/p>\n
The normalisation talks are the centerpiece of complex negotiations that also include discussions of US security guarantees and civilian nuclear help that Riyadh has sought, as well as possible Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.<\/p>\n
\nMohammed bin Salman says getting \u2018closer\u2019 to Israel normalisation<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cFor us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part, MbS said when asked what it would take to get a normalization agreement. And we have a good negotiations continue until now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got to see where we go. We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians, get Israel as a player in the Middle East,\u201d he said, speaking in English.<\/p>\n
MBS also voiced concern about the possibility that Iran, a mutual adversary of Saudi Arabia and Israel that the US wants to contain, could obtain a nuclear weapon. Tehran has denied seeking a nuclear bomb.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a bad move,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you use it, you got to have a big fight with the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked what would happen if Iran did get a nuclear bomb, MBS said: \u201cIf they get one, we have to get one.\u201d<\/p>\n
While U.S. officials insist any breakthrough is far away, they privately tout the potential benefits of a regional mega-deal, including removing a possible flashpoint in the Arab-Israeli conflict, strengthening the bulwark against Iran and countering China\u2019s inroads in the Gulf. Biden would also score a foreign policy win as he seeks re-election in November 2024.<\/p>\n
The broadcast of the crown prince\u2019s comments will follow a meeting between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday in which they pledged to work together toward Israeli-Saudi normalization, which could reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East. Both leaders also said Iran could not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that his country was moving steadily closer to normalising relations with Israel and also warned that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, we have to get one. \u201cEvery day we get closer,\u201d the crown prince told Fox News, according to excerpts of an interview to 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