Netanyahu seeks Saudi nod for Israel to join strikes on Houthis: Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Saudi Arabian approval to join military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi officials remain hesitant, fearing domestic backlash and maintaining that normalization requires progress on a Palestinian state.
Why it matters
This highlights the complex geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing struggle to balance regional security alliances with the Palestinian statehood issue.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia’s approval for Israel to join the military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, with the US mediating between the two sides, Israeli publication Haaretz reported, citing a diplomatic source.However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is opposed to Israeli military involvement, fearing it could trigger a backlash among the kingdom’s public, the source said.Another source familiar with the matter said Netanyahu’s push was also aimed at strengthening ties with Riyadh and laying the groundwork for a future normalisation agreement between the two countries.US president Donald Trump has repeatedly advocated normalising Saudi-Israeli relations under the Abraham Accords. A potential agreement appeared close in 2023, before Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza derailed regional diplomatic efforts.Saudi Arabia has maintained that it will not normalise ties with Israel without substantial progress towards establishing a Palestinian state.
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