US diplomacy chief Antony Blinken on Monday called for normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and assured that the US would never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
“The United States has a genuine national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” Blinken said in a speech before the pro-Israel lobby Israel and the United States Public Affairs Group Committee (AIPAC).
Hours before leaving for talks in Riyadh and Jeddah on regional and bilateral issues, Blinken said the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden remains committed to the Abraham Accords, which was initiated under predecessor Donald Trump (2017-2017). There is an initiative. Persuading Arab countries to establish formal relations with the Hebrew state.
But so far Riyadh has been cautious, although it has opened the way for Israeli commercial flights and has extensive contacts with Israel.
“Further integration of Israel into the region contributes to a more stable, safer and more prosperous region and a more secure Israel,” the Secretary of State told AIPAC.
While the Biden administration is “under no illusions” that full normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel can be quickly or easily achieved, Blinken said they are “committed to working toward that result.”
However, he recognized that this should not affect the process of resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians: “Efforts for integration and normalization are not a substitute for progress in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and should not be done at the expense of ”
Blinken also reiterated that the Biden administration views Iran as the main threat to Israel and that the US will never allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
Blinken said, “If Iran rejects the path of diplomacy, then, as President Biden has repeatedly made clear, all options are on the table to ensure that it does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”
