Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) met with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the futuristic metropolis of Neom, Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast. The Jordanian monarch and the Saudi de facto ruler and heir to the throne held a private meeting on the unfolding events in the Middle East’s vicinity. Amongst the discussions would be to give a joint response on the ongoing Israeli military assaults in Gaza, described as part of broader plans to fully occupy the besieged enclave, as well as intentions for the complete annexation of the West Bank. Amongst Abdullah II’s retinue was his eldest son and heir Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah of Jordan.
The Saudi Crown Prince welcomed King Abdullah upon his arrival in NEOM, where the two leaders held a private meeting focused on unfolding developments in the region. Discussions are set to address the ongoing Israeli military assaults in Gaza, described as part of broader plans to fully occupy the besieged enclave, as well as intentions for the complete annexation of the West Bank. Talks also expected to touch on Jordan’s recent measures against the Muslim Brotherhood group, along with regional and bilateral matters of mutual concern. This marks King Abdullah’s second visit to Saudi Arabia in the past six months. The two leaders last met in April in Jeddah, to discuss strengthening Jordan–Saudi relations and coordination on regional issues, ahead of U.S. president Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
The Saudi Kingdom is performing a balancing act with Jordan. Neither country wants to see Israel expand its settlement program or their continued massacre of Gazan civilians. Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy already has a peace treaty with Israel. Courtesy of Abdullah’s late father King Hussein I. Saudi Arabia under MBS was on the cusp of giving diplomatic recognition to the Zionist state. This followed a warming of relations between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. This was known as the Abraham Accords as brokered by Washington. Given Bahrain would never do anything diplomatically controversial with out the Saudi regime’s approval, it looked as if Riyadh would join the Abraham Accords. It can be argued that Hamas feared that the Accords would lead to the Palestinian cause would be swept under the rug and they were left would no choice but to move ahead with the attacks on October the eight.
Coming back to the present MBS has also held a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday the 11th of August.
During the call, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and their security and humanitarian repercussions. The Crown Prince reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the crimes, brutal practices, and attempts for displacement perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. He emphasized the need for the international community to end the disastrous repercussions of this aggression and protect Palestinian civilians. On his part, President Abbas expressed his deep appreciation of the Saudi efforts and honorable positions, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince, saying that this was contributed to the commitment of many countries to recognize the State of Palestine.
Judging from Abbas’ words it would appear that MBS has done a one hundred and eighty degrees concerning his plans to recognize Israel. He has adopted a more neutral stance possibly from under pressure from his advisors and aids. Recognition of Israel had been a crucial part of MBS’s NEOM Project and Saudi Vision 2030. Recognition of the Zionist regime would have enabled the Israelis to have access to the NEOM project and link up in some form of economic union with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain as well as Jordan. This would have been a betrayal of Palestinian statehood and a direct affront to any Islamic or Arab fraternity. For better or worse MBS, Abdulla II and his family as well as the Palestinian Authority under the possibly ailing eighty-nine-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas are wading through a river of Palestinian blood.
In this scenario Abbas will be the first to drown. Everyone should keep an eye on who or what replaces him.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
