The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Monday that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to receive a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump for normalization with Saudi Arabia” in exchange for completing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
According to the broadcaster, citing an unnamed source close to Netanyahu, “The Israeli Prime Minister is set to receive a proposal from Trump tomorrow to push for normalization with Saudi Arabia.”
The report further stated, “Netanyahu’s close associates acknowledge that the Americans are determined to finalize the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and complete the prisoner exchange deal.”
It added, “In return, Netanyahu will receive the promotion of the agreement with Saudi Arabia, or even a promise regarding the Iranian nuclear program.”
Ahead of his visit to the United States, Netanyahu reportedly discussed with leaders of Israel’s ruling coalition the potential for significant progress in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia. He expressed hope that he could convince his partners to make the various concessions that may be required.
Netanyahu and Trump are scheduled to meet at the White House on Tuesday, marking Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration.
Saudi Arabia has consistently stated that its normalization with Israel is conditional on Israeli government approval for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.
Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated during his Religious Zionism party’s parliamentary faction meeting: “We support a peace agreement with Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, but only on the condition that it is not based on Arab claims to the Land of Israel and does not come at the expense of Israel’s security.”
Smotrich added, “An agreement with Saudi Arabia cannot be reached while we give false hope to the Palestinian Authority, which supports terrorism, or to Arabs in the West Bank regarding the potential establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of Israel.”
Negotiations regarding the second phase of the prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement were supposed to resume on Monday. However, Netanyahu decided not to send the Israeli negotiating team to Qatar before his meeting with Trump, according to the Hebrew website Walla.
An Israeli official told the website, “The negotiations regarding the second phase of the deal will be significantly different from those of the first phase and are expected to address strategic issues such as the future governance of Hamas in Gaza and ending the war.”
The agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that negotiations on the second phase of the deal should commence on the 16th day of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The agreement consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days, with negotiations leading to a second and third phase, ultimately aiming to end the genocide.
