U.S. President Donald Trump with Mohammed bin Salman, then the Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister, in Riyadh in 2017. (Credit: AFP/ file photo)
Israel-Saudi normalization is "closer than ever," Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States, told the Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
"The Saudis want to ensure that their public sees tangible benefits for the Palestinians in any deal," Leiter explained, saying the "perception of the Palestinian issue" is a major hurdle to overcome.
The ambassador added, "The U.S. is uniquely positioned to encourage cooperation from Jordan and Egypt, given their reliance on American aid and security support."
According to Leiter, "Egypt and Jordan are dependent on American money and American power for their survival, really," adding that "if the United States were to come to [Israel's] neighbors and say, 'Look, you're at peace with Israel now for over 30 years, and we need your help,' it seems natural they would play a role."
