Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for Israel to be allowed to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, according to a diplomatic source quoted by Haaretz on Monday.
Saudi Arabia looks to allies for support amid deadly Houthi attacks
According to the report, Netanyahu is pushing through US mediators to secure Saudi Arabia’s permission for Israel to intervene in the decade-old conflict.
The goal is for Israel to “join forces” with Saudi Arabia and develop the relationship to pave the way for a future normalization agreement.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been reluctant to permit Israeli intervention in the war, reportedly believing that it would play poorly with the Saudi public.
MBS serves as the kingdom’s prime minister in addition to serving as crown prince which means that, without his approval, Israel is unlikely to receive permission to enter the war.
Netanyahu has repeatedly stated his goal of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, and the October 7 attacks are believed to have been an attempt by Hamas to disrupt any normalization agreement.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that it would only normalize relations with Israel following the establishment of a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu has pledged to prevent in recent election campaign statements.