Trump Holds Confidential Call with Bin Salman on Normalization
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, axios disclosed that U.S. President Donald Trump last month,following the Sharm El-Sheikh summit on a Gaza ceasefire,urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a phone call to start normalizing relations with the Israeli regime,given the end of hostilities in Gaza.
Two American officials said this topic will be a key agenda item during next week’s meeting between Trump and bin Salman at the White House.
The previously undisclosed call took place after the gaza peace meeting in Egypt. A U.S.official familiar with the conversation stated that Trump told bin Salman he had succeeded in ending the Gaza conflict and now expects steps toward normalization with Israel from riyadh.
Axios quoted this official as saying bin Salman expressed readiness to cooperate with Trump’s administration on advancing ties with Israel.
The report noted that although the Gaza war was one of several major obstacles to talks,it was not their sole barrier. Still, American officials confirmed that some critically important Saudi demands have now been met.
According to Axios,Saudi Arabia seeks a security agreement with Washington and is expected to receive security assurances during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s upcoming visit to Washington. While not a formal defense treaty, this assurance coudl serve as groundwork for such an agreement.
Axios also identified Palestinian statehood as one of the challenges complicating normalization between Tel Aviv and Riyadh.It observed that although trump’s plan addresses Palestinian statehood issues, Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do not share this interpretation.
The outlet added that Netanyahu-who strongly opposes a two-state solution-has rejected parts of Trump’s plan. According to U.S.officials,Netanyahu’s hardline stance makes advancing negotiations difficult. Trump’s advisers have urged Netanyahu to consider long-term interests since progress on peace could lead to historic agreements with Saudi Arabia.
Axios reported that Trump’s plan conditions expanded authority for the Palestinian Authority on full implementation of reforms demanded by Washington.Officials say negotiations are ongoing but it remains unclear whether any progress toward normalization will be achieved during bin Salman’s forthcoming visit to Washington.
