Israelis split on prospects of Biden bringing peace with Saudi Arabia

Left: US President Joe Biden speaks at a change of command ceremony at US Coast Guard headquarters, June 1, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Right: Prime Minister Yaïr Lapid makes a statement following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace in Paris, on July 5, 2022. (Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
Left: US President Joe Biden speaks at a change of command ceremony at US Coast Guard headquarters, June 1, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Right: Prime Minister Yaïr Lapid makes a statement following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace in Paris, on July 5, 2022. (Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

The Israeli public is split on the question of whether the upcoming visit of US President Joe Biden to the region could bring about a diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia, according to a new poll.

Forty-four percent of respondents tell the Israel Democracy Institute that they believe in Biden’s ability to effect a peace agreement between the two countries, and 44% say they don’t.

When it comes to the possibility of a breakthrough with the Palestinians after years of stagnation, the Israeli public is almost universally pessimistic, with only 11% saying they believe it is a viable option.

Biden is expected in Israel on Wednesday for a packed two-day visit that will also include a trip to the Palestinian Authority, followed by a visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a Saturday meeting with regional Mideast leaders as part of the GCC+3 summit (the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE along with Iraq, Egypt and Jordan).

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