Strategic contradiction in Saudi foreign policy after Al-Aqsa storm

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, one of the main motivations of the Al-Aqsa storm so far was to face the plan of normalization, oblivion and compromise of the Palestinian cause, which was crystallized in the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime. In the current 5-month period, various actors tried to take measures to stop the killing machine of the Zionist army in the Gaza strip, considering their interests. In the meantime, it seems that Saudi Arabia’s policy in the face of a major event such as the Al-Aqsa storm operation on October 7 was only a completely conservative strategy and a tactical case. In other words, Riyadh does not recognize any change in the political-geopolitical scene in the region affected by the October 7 operation, and Saudi Arabia’s efforts are only focused on managing the country’s main case in this field, that is, the normalization of relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh. .

In the rest of this note, the most important actions that Saudi Arabia took during the more than one hundred and fifty days of the Al-Aqsa storm war are discussed. .

The lack of a strategic look at the tragedy of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Al-Aqsa storm operation

Objective evidence indicates that the Al-Aqsa storm case in Riyadh is in the hands of Faisal bin Farhan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country, and except for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, none of the other Saudi officials express the positions of this country regarding the Palestinian case. . It seems that unlike other strategic cases of the Saudi government, such as mediation in the Ukraine affairs or normalization of relations with the Zionist regime, which are personally carried out by the Saudi crown prince and king, the Gaza case has not received much attention from the rulers of Riyadh.

This issue has made the measures considered by Saudi Arabia to be ineffective for the magnitude of the current crisis in Gaza. This is in a situation where other Islamic countries in the region, such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, etc., at the highest levels of their leaders and political leaders, have declared a position in support or opposition to the Zionist regime, and instead, Saudi Arabia has taken a different path compared to Tehran, Ankara, and Abu Dhabi.

Palestinian and Hamas conflict for Saudi Arabia

By rereading the statements published by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, it can be clearly seen that Riyadh The two ways of expressing their displeasure with Hamas and respecting the tradition of supporting the Palestinian people have suffered a strategic contradiction; In the sense that, on the one hand, due to internal pressure, they are forced to support the people of Palestine and Quds Sharif, and on the other hand, because the action of Hamas in the implementation of the Al-Aqsa storm operation has challenged the normalization process of Riyadh and Tel Aviv. They feel dissatisfied. For this reason, unlike other Islamic countries such as Iran, Qatar or Turkey and Egypt, the residents of Yamameh Palace have lost the possibility of bold intervention in the Gaza crisis.

Saudis exploiting the Washington-Riyadh deal

Since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa storm battle, the American and Saudi authorities have repeatedly emphasized that the normalization of relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh is on the agenda and it is not a case that has been sidelined, but the assertions of the Saudi authorities in the statement that It was written on February 7 that Saudi Arabia will continue to normalize relations with Israel on the condition that the Zionists recognize the independent state of Palestine. The aforementioned statement clearly calls for the recognition of the 1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Not accompanying the American-British coalition in the Red Sea

Saudi Arabia during the Al-Aqsa storm operation Although he did not cooperate with the regional and Islamic coalitions that were acting in opposition to the Zionist regime, on the other hand, he tried to avoid participating in the American and British coalition to attack Yemen, considering his own interests.

Statements and Speeches

Undoubtedly, the most repeated and main action that the foreign agents of Saudi Arabia have done is preparing statements and speeches with themes such as emphasizing the ceasefire, protection of rights The Palestinians are supporting the American two-state plan and not supporting the demands of the Palestinian people, which has been clearly stated many times by Hamas officials.

The points mentioned in the Saudi statements are deploring the situation of the people of the Gaza Strip and emphasizing the increase in humanitarian aid, although it was expected that Riyadh, as an old partner of the Palestinian people, would take a firm position on the necessity of the immediate reconstruction of Gaza with participation. All the Islamic countries of the region should express, but this issue is only limited to the necessity of sending humanitarian aid.

In general, it can be said that Saudi Arabia, despite special emphasis on the need to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, due to the existence of a much bigger case such as normalization with Tel Aviv, which is for the national interests of this country It is very important, it has suffered a kind of stroke in its foreign policy; Because, on the one hand, he doesn’t want to harm the deal process that is going on with the US and the Zionist regime regarding normalization, and on the other hand, he doesn’t want his reputation to be damaged in the whole Islamic world and the Arab world.

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