Israel Expresses Concern Over New US-Saudi Nuclear Deal

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a new nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, pending approval from the US Congress, has drawn criticism and concern from political and security circles within the Israeli regime. Reuters reported this development, citing sources from Mehr News Agency.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, have labeled the agreement a threat to Israel’s security. They warned that uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia could trigger a nuclear arms race in the region and urged Tel Aviv to oppose the deal and work to prevent its passage in the US Congress.

Israeli officials had reportedly hoped that any nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia would be part of a broader normalization of relations between Riyadh and the Israeli regime. However, a White House spokesperson indicated that the implementation of the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is contingent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia had previously conditioned such progress on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The US Secretary of Energy and their Saudi counterpart have signed a memorandum of understanding for civilian nuclear cooperation and nuclear safeguards. This agreement has now been sent to the US Congress for review.