Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expresses concerns about potential assassination threats as he pursues normalization with Israel, citing the need for a Palestinian state in any deal.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) reportedly expressed concerns about his safety to visiting U.S. lawmakers due to his efforts to normalize relations with Israel, according to a Politico report published on Wednesday.
Three sources familiar with the discussions revealed that while the crown prince remains committed to pursuing ties with Israel, he fears that his life may be at risk because of this decision.
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MBS allegedly referenced the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who was killed by Islamist extremists in 1981, just two years after signing a peace treaty with Israel. During his discussions, the crown prince questioned what the U.S. had done to protect Sadat following the historic agreement.
The crown prince reportedly highlighted the assassination threat as a key reason why any normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel must include a genuine path to a Palestinian state—something the current Israeli government opposes.
A source familiar with the discussions quoted MBS as saying that the Saudi public and the broader Middle East care deeply about the Palestinian issue. He emphasized that his role as the custodian of Islam’s holy sites would be jeopardized if he failed to address this pressing matter of justice.
Despite these concerns, the report suggests that MBS remains determined to finalize a significant deal with the U.S. and Israel, viewing it as vital to Saudi Arabia’s future. However, it is unclear when exactly the crown prince discussed his potential assassination.
Sources in the U.S. Congress have indicated that the possibility of securing an Israel-Saudi normalization agreement before the upcoming U.S. presidential election is unlikely, as there may not be enough time for the Senate to ratify the U.S.-Saudi portion of the deal before its recess.
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In a column for Politico, senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi speculated that MBS might be highlighting the danger to his life to pressure U.S. officials into pushing Israel to accept a deal favorable to him. Toosi noted that even before the Gaza conflict, MBS was taking a risk by considering diplomatic relations with Israel.
Now, she suggests, pursuing normalization could result in losing the support of Saudi youth, who have been energized by the current conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, which many are witnessing for the first time in their lives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long sought to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, but his rejection of a future Palestinian state makes such a deal challenging. U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that Saudi Arabia seeks full recognition of Israel in exchange for security guarantees from Washington and the establishment of a civilian nuclear facility.
On Monday, the White House announced that it had resumed offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, lifting a ban imposed in 2021 due to human rights concerns. This move is seen as part of Washington’s efforts to secure Saudi assistance in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and countering potential threats from Iran against Israel.
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Before the Gaza conflict, the normalization of Israeli-Saudi relations seemed imminent. Just days before the war erupted on October 7, two Israeli ministers made unprecedented public visits to Saudi Arabia. The conflict began when Hamas-led terrorists launched a massive attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.