Israel, Saudi Arabia see progress on ties as Iran sounds warning

As Iran, a common enemy of Saudi Arabia and Israel, accused the kingdom of betraying the Palestinians through the US-led initiative, Saudi Arabia and Israel expressed hope that they were getting closer to a historic restoration of relations.

By getting Saudi Arabia, the protector of the two holiest sites in Islam, to recognize the Jewish state, US President Joe Biden hopes to alter the Middle East and win a diplomatic success during election season.

Biden joked that he had “Irish optimism” about reaching an agreement with Saudi Arabia when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

“If you and I, 10 years ago, were talking about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think we’d look at each other like, ‘Who’s been drinking what?'” Biden — himself a teetotaler — said of Israel and the strictly dry kingdom.

Netanyahu, who has had rocky relations with Biden, said he believed a deal was “within our reach” and credited him.

“I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” Netanyahu said.

The revamp of Israel’s judiciary, which some internal critics believe undermines democracy, has been attacked openly by Biden. He also made reference to the criticisms when he met with Netanyahu in New York rather than at the White House.