Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated today that he sees an opportunity to “expand Israel’s peace agreements” following the recent conflict with Iran.
“We fought decisively against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the way for the expansion of peace agreements,” Netanyahu said in a video statement released by his office.
Leveraging “Abraham Accords” Momentum
Netanyahu’s remarks allude to the Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term. These agreements led to the normalization of relations between Israel and three Arab nations: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Facing an ongoing corruption trial, Netanyahu today requested a postponement of upcoming hearings, with his lawyer citing “developments in the region and the world” in the aftermath of the war with Iran and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “With the release of our hostages and the victory over Hamas, opportunities are opening up – we must not miss them. We must not lose a single day,” Netanyahu urged.
Saudi Normalization Prospects Remain Unlikely Amidst Palestinian Statehood Demand
Before the war in the Gaza Strip, which began with the October 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel, Saudi Arabia had initiated talks with Washington. These discussions included the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a security agreement and support for its civilian nuclear program.
However, Saudi Arabia has since conditioned such a move on the establishment of a Palestinian state, a condition that Israel rejects. This stance makes the prospect of an agreement highly unlikely in the current regional context.
