Is Saudi Arabia’s Youthful New ‘King In Waiting’ Good For Israel?
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was recently given the title by his father, the current king of Saudi Arabia, is being lauded in some corners as an ‘ally of Israel.’
Though only 31 years old, bin Salman was put next in line for the throne at a time when the kingdom is consolidating its power in the region.
In May, Bin Salman reportedly called Israel “the sole lighthouse of democracy and freedom in one of the more troubled areas of the world,” and called on Arabs to embrace Israel.
Bin Salman has reportedly met with Israeli officials to begin economic negotiations. Preliminary agreements are said to include allowing Israeli business to operate in Saudi Arabia and permitting El Al planes to fly in Saudi airspace.
The crown prince also reportedly hopes to work with Israel and the U.S. on limiting Russia’s influence in the region, stopping ISIS, and clamping down on Iran.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30