Israel and Saudi Arabia on the Verge of a Groundbreaking Peace Agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it is likely Israel will reach a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, which would be a significant foreign policy shift for both countries. The potential pact, mediated by the US, could bring down "walls of enmity" and create a corridor of energy pipelines, rail lines, and fiber optic cables between Asia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. While Saudi Arabia has previously proposed an Arab Peace initiative, offering Israel security and normal relations, Israel rejected it at the time. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called a normalization pact with Israel the biggest historical deal since the Cold War. Netanyahu has made improving relations with Saudi Arabia a priority, but it remains unclear what concessions toward Palestinians would be made by his right-wing coalition.