MELVINDALE, Michigan, Oct 23 (Reuters) – U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and is optimistic that a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be finalized by year-end.
While campaigning in Michigan for Donald Trump, Graham mentioned Netanyahu’s support for advancing the agreement with Saudi Arabia. He expressed concern that the next U.S. administration might struggle to secure the necessary congressional votes after President Joe Biden leaves office on January 20.
“I think the time to do this is on Biden’s watch,” Graham remarked, noting that Vice President Kamala Harris appears less interested in pursuing such a deal. He believes Biden is eager to facilitate an agreement and can rally the needed Democratic support.
Normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia would build on the “Abraham Accords” established during Trump’s presidency, which already included agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
Morgan Finkelstein, the National Security Spokeswoman for Harris’s campaign, countered that Harris has consistently backed efforts to integrate Israel more deeply into the region, viewing such integration as vital to countering threats from Iran.
Graham cautioned that if Trump were to win the election, Democratic support for the initiative could dwindle, particularly if it extends into next year.
Efforts by the Biden administration to broker a normalization agreement, including U.S. security guarantees for Saudi Arabia, had stalled following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. A defense pact would require a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Senate.
Analysts have indicated that achieving an Israel-Saudi normalization deal would be challenging without a clear plan for establishing a Palestinian state, which many Israelis oppose. However, Graham is confident a solution can be reached to create a demilitarized Palestinian state that poses no threat to Israel.
He noted an opportunity for a ceasefire in Lebanon due to Israeli actions against Hezbollah leaders, while also emphasizing the need for a comprehensive plan to rebuild Gaza and the West Bank, ideally led by Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations.
The October 7 Hamas attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and 253 hostages, while the ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza, leading to over 42,500 Palestinian deaths, with thousands more unaccounted for, according to health authorities in Gaza.
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