The Facts
As part of his trip to Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas met with Saudi Crown Prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Wednesday to discuss current developments in the Palestinian territories and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
During their talks on bolstering bilateral ties — which came amid a recent surge in violence — both emphasized the importance of advancing "the legitimate rights of Palestinians" to establish their own state, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Saudi-Iran deal and Riyadh's questionable diplomatic activities are bad news for Israel and the US, as well as their joint efforts to achieve regional peace under the Abraham Agreement. However, Riyadh's charm offensive is also aimed at neutralizing Tehran's regional influence and should not therefore be confused with a growing anti-Israel stance. The Saudis are pursuing their own interests and are well aware that their main strategic rival is not based in Tel Aviv.
Narrative B
Even if Tel Aviv tries to downplay recent developments, the Iranian-Saudi rapprochement and the visit of both Abbas and the Hamas delegation are a fatal blow to Israel and US efforts to dominate the region. While the Israeli regime is grappling with a severe domestic crisis, Riyadh and Tehran have seized the opportunity to prepare the ground for reconciliation in the region. The days of Israeli and US divide-and-rule tactics are over, and that is good news for regional peace.
