Al-Khamis ties Saudi-Israeli normalization to a two-state commitment

The Saudi journalist also argues that a southern Yemeni state would serve US interests and calls for stronger military deterrence against the Houthis.

Channel: Sky News Arabia Arabic channel ·

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2:18Al-Khamis rejects occupation and argues that Palestinian rights are better served by peace than extremist rhetoric.
10:35He assigns primary responsibility for Gaza's destruction to Hamas and argues October 7 strengthened Israeli extremists.
18:00He calls for stronger military deterrence against the Houthis and criticizes Yemen's recognized government's performance.
21:00He argues a southern Yemeni state could serve US interests, discussing Bab el-Mandeb's strategic significance.
23:23The discussion weighs military pressure on Iran, gradual attrition and the possibility of bargaining with Washington.
27:08He links Saudi-Israeli normalization to Netanyahu's departure or a government accepting a roadmap toward two states.

Saudi-Israeli normalization requires a change in Israel's political direction, not simply more time, Saudi writer and journalist Abdulaziz al-Khamis argues in a wide-ranging television interview. His forecast is that relations could follow Benjamin Netanyahu's departure, or the arrival of an Israeli government willing to accept a two-state solution.

Speaking to Fadila Souissi on United Arab Emirates-based Sky News Arabia's program "The Hard Question," al-Khamis links that prospect to an Israeli commitment to a roadmap toward Palestinian statehood and the outcome of elections. It is his assessment of the conditions for normalization, rather than an announcement of an agreement.

Souissi begins by challenging him about his visits to Israel and a speech he delivered in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Al-Khamis says he used that appearance to advocate two states and support Israelis seeking peace. He rejects occupation and affirms Palestinians' right to freedom and a state, while arguing that extremist rhetoric damages their cause.

The exchange becomes sharper over Gaza. Souissi raises the Netanyahu government's conduct, the bombardment and international arrest warrants. Al-Khamis places primary responsibility for Gaza's destruction on Hamas, arguing that the October 7 attacks gave Israeli extremists a political lifeline. He also contends that the aftermath weakened Iranian influence in Syria and Lebanon.

On Yemen, his prescription is military deterrence. He argues that restraint without the credible ability to retaliate encourages the Houthis, and calls for forceful responses to attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. He criticizes Yemen's internationally recognized government's alliances as fragile and blames Muslim Brotherhood influence for obstructing its effectiveness.

Al-Khamis then argues that Washington's interests could favor a state in southern Yemen, discussing that possibility alongside the strategic importance of Bab el-Mandeb. The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, making it a crucial passage for shipping. His argument describes what he believes would benefit the United States, not a stated US decision.

The closing discussion considers whether pressure on Iran could lead to renewed war or a deal with Washington. Al-Khamis compares a possible campaign against Iran's leadership to the gradual attrition of Saddam Hussein's regime, while acknowledging Tehran's capacity for pragmatic bargaining. He also credits patient intelligence gathering for Israel's targeting capabilities, contrasting it with the difficulties other forces have faced against the Houthis.

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