US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan intends to visit Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend, amid escalating tensions over the Israeli military operation in Rafah, south of Gaza, according to what was reported by the website “AxiosThe American spoke about 3 American and Israeli officials, whom he did not name.
According to the website, the White House seeks to discourage Israel from launching a large-scale military operation in the city of Rafah, which “would cross the red line set by US President Joe Biden.”
The United States and many countries around the world warned Israel against launching a ground military operation in Rafah, amid fears of potentially disastrous effects on civilians who were displaced to the city.
During the recent period, tensions escalated between the US administration and the Israeli government, as Biden withheld an arms shipment to Israel and set a clear “red line” in which he said that “a major ground operation in Rafah will prompt him to suspend sending some offensive American weapons to Israel,” according to the site.
The White House also confirms to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a major military operation in Rafah “will reduce the chances of reaching a historic peace agreement with Saudi Arabia,” according to what American officials told Axios.
But at the same time, Netanyahu remains committed to moving forward with a military operation in Rafah, in order to “eliminate the last strongholds of Hamas,” in his words.
Instead of invading Rafah, the United States offers Israel “valuable assistance”
As part of the United States’ attempts to prevent Israel from launching a comprehensive ground attack on Rafah, the Washington Post revealed that the administration of US President Joe Biden will provide Israel with “valuable assistance” if it withdraws from the invasion.
The website quoted a senior American official, on Tuesday, as saying, “The American administration has reached an understanding with the Israeli government that any operation in Rafah will not be significantly expanded before Sullivan’s visit.”
The White House also hopes to extend this commitment until a high-level meeting is held between American and Israeli teams in Washington days after Sullivan’s trip to the region, according to Axios.
The White House did not respond to Axios’ questions for comment.
On Monday, Sullivan told reporters: “Israel’s long-term security depends on integration into the region and enjoying normal relations with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.”
He stressed that Israel must “take any attack on Rafah into account, while keeping its larger strategy in mind.”
Sullivan added: “We should not miss a historic opportunity to achieve the vision of a secure Israel surrounded by strong regional partners, who provide a strong front to deter aggression and maintain regional stability.”
Did the Rafah operation spark a dispute between Biden and Netanyahu?
How will Netanyahu act after Biden’s historic decision to withhold some offensive weapons from Israel? Did Biden’s “red line” regarding the Rafah operation strike the relationship between the United States and Israel – as some believe? What about the possibility of Hamas and its supporters benefiting from the widening gap between the US administration and Israel over the Rafah operation?
“huge deal”
Sullivan’s trip is scheduled to include a “long-term attempt” to make progress toward a US-Saudi “huge deal” that could include the normalization of relations between Riyadh and Israel, according to the same site.
But according to Axios, the chances of reaching a deal are “very slim,” even though “the White House continues to work on a draft of a US-Saudi defense treaty.”
The website quoted four American and Israeli officials as saying, “The deal will include American support for a Saudi civil nuclear program.”
Will Saudi Arabia enjoy its defense deal without Israeli normalization? An official answers
US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, confirmed that the administration of US President Joe Biden will not sign a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia if the Kingdom and Israel do not agree to normalize relations, stressing that “you cannot separate one piece from the other.”
According to Axios, “American officials hope to reach bilateral agreements with the Saudis and then present them to Netanyahu, whose part of the deal includes ending the war in Gaza and committing to a path toward a two-state solution.”
The website said that Netanyahu’s approval of this deal “means that he will be part of a historic peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. But if he says no, he may lose the support of the United States and face the consequences of the Rafah operation on his own.”
According to “Axios”, it is expected that Sullivan will be joined on the trip by the White House coordinator for Middle East affairs, Brett McGurk, the US envoy Amos Hockstein, and State Department advisor Derek Chollet, where they will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Israeli prime minister, and officials. Other Saudis and Israelis.
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