The Fence-Sitting Saudis
This article criticizes Saudi Arabia's diplomatic stance following a Flydubai hijacking incident, arguing that the kingdom remains passive and uncooperative with Israel. The author highlights a perceived hypocrisy in Riyadh's reliance on Israeli assistance for security while refusing to facilitate basic humanitarian gestures for Israeli citizens.
Why it matters
It illustrates the complex, often covert, geopolitical tensions and security dependencies between Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia reminds me of the old joke about rock stars' egos. How many lead singers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Just one - he holds the light bulb and the world revolves around him. Today is the second day of stories about the miraculous foiling of the Flydubai hijacking, and it is the second day containing stories about the Saudis' belief that they should never have to actually do anything, ever. Just sit there and hold the lightbulb.
The Saudis treated the passengers of the diverted flight well, Amir Bohbot reports for the Jerusalem Post , but that's where the praise ends:
"A rescue flight using Israel Air Force aircraft did not materialize. Nor did an Israeli civilian flight, which would have greatly reassured the passengers.
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