Sources emphasized that while an official Israel-Saudi diplomatic breakthrough could wait until after the conclusion of Gaza conflict, “Saudis expressed immense satisfaction over developments on Iran front”, signaling greater Gulf confidence in Israeli military capabilities as a regional counterweight against Tehran.
Saudi Arabia, long an opponent to Israeli actions and supporter of Palestinian statehood, is now shifting its regional positioning in response to Iranian interests and public sentiment. Analysts see this shift as part of an intelligent balancing act between defense/intelligence commitments to Iran vs public concerns/diplomatic norms.
One report highlights rising unease among Gulf states not so much over direct confrontation but due to the unpredictable military strategy employed by Israel, prompting cautious engagement while mitigating regional risks (WashingtonPost.com +4, Wall Street Journal.com, Financial Times)
Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel Viewed Iran Battle As Potential Turning Point Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognized this momentous occasion as a potential turning point, telling reporters that military success against Iran had enhanced Israel’s regional standing and opened “a window of opportunity” for expanding Abraham Accords possibly including Saudi Arabia and Syria (Wsj.com/reuters.com +2; NYPost/reuters +2). For further discussion visit Wsj/reuters +2, NY Post +2 and Reuters ++2;
As Netanyahu made clear after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, his comments suggest a strategic shift: now that some perceptions around Iran may be addressed with military means, political alliances in the Middle East might advance more quickly.
Regional Reaction & Risks
Gulf publics and governments have rejected Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran as destabilizing, particularly by Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar who expressed alarm about how these strikes may lead to wider war (Washington Post.com).
Strategists caution that, while covert security ties may deepen between Israel and Saudi Arabia, any public normalization agreement between them remains tenuous as Saudi Arabia demands Palestinian rights and Gaza’s fate as conditions of any deal between them.
Comment from Gulf Think-Tanks
Experts at Gulf-based think tanks suggest that Saudi defense and intelligence circles have grown increasingly comfortable with Israeli military support against Iran despite political leadership’s continued public caution. A Washington Post analysis noted how Gulf leaders balance two agendas simultaneously by exploring pragmatic security coordination with Israel while still prioritizing Palestinian statehood and regional diplomacy.
Summary and Implications
This i24NEWS investigation revealed an unexpected but crucial trend: Israel’s military pressure against Iran may be altering Saudi strategic calculus, prompting quiet security cooperation arrangements that may hasten normalization timelines.
However, major public, parliamentary, and diplomatic restrictions remain in place–particularly those related to Gaza, as a sovereign Palestinian state and divergence from Iranian influence. Any overt progress toward deals with Saudi Arabia will depend upon achieving political equilibrium: protecting Gulf public sentiment while offering Palestinian concessions while guaranteeing conflict de-escalation within Gaza.
As Israel enhances regional credibility through military means, the evolving dynamic with Saudi Arabia may blossom into formal ties; but only when geopolitical, security, and humanitarian conditions in both capitals align.