Former envoy to US: Netanyahu ‘unwilling to pay the price’ for Saudi normalization

Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Mike Herzog, who served until January, accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of missing opportunities for a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, including a few months ago.

After the news that US President Donald Trump is no longer conditioning a landmark nuclear pact with Riyadh on the latter recognizing the Jewish state, Herzog tells the Kan public broadcaster that “since Israel is planning to widen the operation in Gaza, normalization is getting farther away.”

“I think Israel should make [normalization] a very high priority. I don’t think Netanyahu doesn’t want it, but he probably isn’t willing to pay the price. I think it’s a missed opportunity,” he says, though he adds that the past opportunities were missed due to multiple factors.

“Trump was elected over the ‘America first’ stance and he is implementing it. This means, all the rest, including Israel, come after American interests,” Herzog says, adding that “there is a possibility that a hostage deal will reopen the chances for normalization with Saudi Arabia.”