The life of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is in danger. MBS has told US Congressmen that if Saudi Arabia enters into a normalization agreement with Israel, which does not include recognition of a Palestinian state, he could be assassinated.
This claim has been made about MBS in a report by US-based news outlet Politico.
Politico, in its report, quoted a former US official as saying that the Saudi Crown Prince discussed the threat to his life with the US Congress and demanded that the agreement should have a clear path for a future Palestinian nation.
The report said that in a meeting with US lawmakers, MBS mentioned former Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and said that I may end up like him. Anwar Sadat was assassinated by extremists in 1981 after signing a peace treaty with Israel.
A source familiar with the matter told Politico that MBS spoke about the Palestinian state in the agreement, saying, “The Saudi people care very much about this and the whole Middle East is very serious about this. And if I don’t pay attention to this issue, my tenure as the protector of the holy places of Islam will not be safe.
The report said it was not clear how long ago MBS had raised concerns about his assassination. Congress sources say the chances of an Israel-Saudi normalization agreement have diminished in view of the Gaza war.
MBS committed to reconciliation with Israel despite assassination risks
Despite the threat of assassination, MBS is reportedly committed to pursuing a deal with the US and Israel. He believes that a deal with Israel is vital to Saudi Arabia’s future because in return the US will provide Saudi security guarantees, a steady supply of weapons, and help the US launch a civilian nuclear program.
But the US-backed Israel-Saudi deal is facing a problem over the demand for a Palestinian nation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been opposing the inclusion of the demand for a Palestinian nation in the agreement.
Earlier this year, amid Israeli attacks on Gaza that have been going on since October last year, Saudi Arabia had clearly told the US that it would not establish relations with Israel until a Palestinian state was recognised.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry had said that an independent Palestinian state should be established on the basis of the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Also, Israel’s attacks on Gaza should stop.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)