Peace with Saudi Arabia Soon? ‘I’d Bet on It,’ Says Netanyahu

“I think that we are about to witness a pivot of history,” Israeli Prime Minister says.

By United with Israel Staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he’d “bet on” Israel soon achieving normalization with Saudi Arabia.

“I think that we are about to witness a pivot of history,” he told Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua.

“First, there is an economic corridor of energy, transport and communications that naturally goes through our geography from Asia through the Arabian Peninsula to Europe.

“We are going to realize that,” Netanyahu said, “my feeling is, whether we have formal peace or not.”

“If there is a political will, there will be a political way to achieve normalization and formal peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he continued. “That has enormous economic consequences for the investors and if they have to bet on it right now, I’d bet on it, but I can’t guarantee it.”

Netanyahu downplayed claims the Palestinian issue has played a big part in normalization negotiations.

“Is that what’s being said in corridors? Is that what’s being said in discreet negotiations? The answer is a lot less than you think,” he said.

Asked what he “would be willing to give” for peace with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said, “I’ll tell you what I’m not willing to give. I’m not willing to give anything that will endanger Israel’s security. That I will not do, but I think there is enough room to discuss possibilities.”

“The Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves and none of the powers to threaten Israel, which means that in whatever final peace settlement we’ll have with the Palestinians, I’d say, Israel has an overriding security power in the entire area, ours and theirs. Otherwise, we collapse, they collapse,” said Netanyahu.