SULLIVAN: AN ISRAELI-SAUDI DEAL MAY REACH A PALESTINIAN STATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF, January 17, 2024 11: 59 am, Updated: January 17, 2024 12: 41 am

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan attends a session during the 54th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024 (Photo Credit: REUTERS / DENIS BALIBOUSE)

The Biden administration has made several statements about their desire to achieve peace after the ceasefire. His words were one of many such statements.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that perhaps in the near future there will be a normalization agreement between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian states.

On Tuesday, he told The Forum, "We are actively pursuing the path towards normalization and integration with our regional partners."

Sullivan stated that the Biden administration has a vision of a future in which Israelis and Arabs can live together in peace, Palestinians have their own state, and Israeli security is assured.

Sullivan stated that this was impractical and achievable. The pieces are there to be put together to achieve this result, not years later but at a much closer time.

The Biden administration has made several statements about their intention to achieve peace once a permanent ceasefire for the Gaza war is in place. These words are one of many such statements.

(LR) US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (credit: via REUTERS)

Does October 7 end the chances of normalization with the Saudis?

Most people argue that the Hamas attack on October 7 destroyed US President Joe Biden's efforts to reach a regional peace agreement that includes Israel, given that he will be nominated for a second term in 2024.

Sullivan stated that prior to the October 7 attacks, the U.S. was concentrating on diplomatic efforts to resolve the two countries' conflict, primarily through its efforts to reach an agreement with Saudi Arabia that would include normalizing relations with Israel.

Sullivan explained that the Biden administration's main diplomatic initiative is to try to produce normalization. As an important element of the normalization package, it produces tangible benefits for the Palestinian people and political horizons for the two countries.

In our judgment, this will be the most likely way to make progress in solving a problem that has become a challenge. Since bypassing other rounds of direct negation will not work, this indirect approach will most likely produce this result.

Sullivan explained, "Going through a round of direct negotiations is not going to work. He told how he went to Ramallah early last year, in 2023, and sat down "with President Abbas and talked about this drama, long before October 7 took place.".

He added, "The post-October 7 strategy does not deviate from that; we still want to see normalization tied to the political horizon for the Palestinian people."

The current Israeli government has expressed a fairly strong belief in the Palestinian cause publicly. The U.S. government has come across as quite harsh and criticized for certain statements and stances they have taken because there are elements and voices in that administration, Sullivan explained.

"Ultimately, the Israeli government must make a decision on how best to safeguard and maintain the security of the state of Israel. It is President Biden's firm belief that two countries will ensure Israel's security."

Sullivan explained that the main topic of conversation between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of October 7 was the Palestinian issue.

At the Davos forum, Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, stated that normalization with Israel is possible, but only in relation to the Palestinians.

We agree that regional peace should include peace for Israel, but peace for Palestine can only be achieved through a Palestinian state.

Farhan stated that they have been working with the US administration to resolve the issue, reminding them that Israel's failure to stop the Gaza war “jeopardizes the prospects for regional peace.”

Farhan emphasized how high the cost of the war for Palestinians is. HAMAS claims that nearly 24,000 Palestinians have been killed in war-related violence, while Israel claims that about 9,000 of those victims were fighters.

He stressed that a ceasefire must be reached between Israel and Hamas.

Farhan stated that there is a much better path for the region, namely peace, and he is fully committed to it. He also stated that his country would recognize Israel in a broader regional context.

News Sources: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-782511