"Prospects for a Saudi-Israel Deal in the Middle East Remain Uncertain"

Anticipation is growing about the potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, two important allies in the Middle East. While there has been discrete cooperation between the two countries in recent years, major barriers remain, including the issue of Palestinian statehood and Saudi Arabia's demands for U.S. security guarantees and support for its civilian nuclear program. The current right-wing Israeli government is unlikely to meet Saudi demands for concessions to the Palestinians. Time is running out for a deal before the Biden administration's re-election campaign, but normalization could provide Saudi Arabia with a strategic breakthrough and key security benefits.