From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
In letter to Biden, Democratic senators stress concerns over Israel-Saudi normalization terms
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Twenty Democratic senators pen a letter to US President Joe Biden in which they express their general support for his administration’s efforts to broker a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, while stressing their concern over Saudi security and nuclear demands and urging the White House to use the deal to advance a two-state solution.
“Historically, security guarantees through defense treaties have only been provided to the closest of US allies: democracies that share our interests and our values,” the senators write. “A high degree of proof would be required to show that a binding defense treaty with Saudi Arabia – an authoritarian regime that regularly undermines US interests in the region, has a deeply concerning human rights record, and has pursued an aggressive and reckless foreign policy agenda – aligns with US interests, especially if such a commitment requires the US to deploy substantial new permanent resources to the region.”
Commenting on the Saudi demand for US support for a civilian nuclear program, the senators say it should not be built on Saudi soil, warning such a move could lead to a regional nuclear arms race.
The senators also say a potential deal must include “meaningful, clearly defined and enforceable provisions to achieve your stated objective of preserving the option of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” such as a settlement freeze, razing of illegal outposts and the growth of Palestinian cities.
The senators who signed the letter were Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Peter Welch, Brian Schatz, Tom Carper, Tammy Duckworth, Patty Murray, Tammy Baldwin, Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman, Elizabeth Warren, Jon Ossoff, Jeanne Shaheen, Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, Raphael Warnock, Ed Markey and Ben Ray Lujan.
