Netanyahu wants to join Saudi's war against Houthis, Crown Prince says 'No'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal to join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached Saudi Arabia through US mediation seeking approval for Israel to participate in military operations against the Houthis, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing diplomatic sources.

According to the report, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler and prime minister, opposed Israeli military involvement because of its potential political and public repercussions inside the kingdom.

Another source familiar with the matter said Israel had hoped military cooperation between the two US allies would strengthen bilateral ties and potentially pave the way for the normalisation of diplomatic relations.

Saudi authorities have yet to publicly comment on the reported Israeli proposal or its rejection.

The development comes amid repeated Houthi attacks that have disrupted aviation and other activities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi-Israel ties

Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, although US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia has maintained that progress towards normalisation with Israel depends on resolving the Palestinian issue, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, has repeatedly expressed his desire to establish formal relations with Saudi Arabia.

The two countries were reportedly moving closer to a US-brokered normalisation agreement in 2023 before the Hamas-led 7 October attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza derailed the process.

With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding the post of Saudi prime minister in addition to being crown prince, any Israeli participation in Saudi-led military operations would be highly unlikely without his approval.

Source : NDTV