Rabat – The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expanded his planned visit to the Middle East, incorporating Morocco and Saudi Arabia into his agenda alongside Israel, Israeli news outlet i24News reported on Tuesday.
The report quoted “diplomatic sources” as saying that Blinken will visit Morocco and Saudi Arabia following his scheduled visits to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the third week of October. The trip will be “part of Washington’s effort to advance normalization between Jerusalem and Riyadh,” i24News said.
The tour is expected to bolster the Abraham Accords framework, which has facilitated diplomatic engagements and normalized relations between Israel and various countries in the region, including Morocco.
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel was on the verge of a historic normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
“Peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia will truly create a new Middle East,” he stressed.
Netanyahu presented maps illustrating Israel’s transformation from isolation in 1948 to the normalization of ties with several countries in 2020. These countries include Morocco, Bahrain, and the UAE.
However, Netanyahu did not outline a clear pathway to this potential agreement or elaborate on any potential obstacles that might hinder the progress of such a controversial deal.
Read also: Saudi Crown Prince Says Normalization with Israel Is ‘Getting Closer’
This aligns with recent statements from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who, without specifying the particulars of the Saudi conditions or objectives concerning the Palestinian cause, has appeared to indicate that normalization with Israel is no longer an impossible dream.
Recent months have seen a notable increase in Israeli officials traveling to Saudi Arabia, with the upcoming visit by the U.S. Secretary of State expected to further solidify relations between the United States, Morocco, and the broader Middle East.
Recent months have seen a notable increase in Israeli officials traveling to Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for potential breakthroughs in diplomatic relations.
Blinken’s upcoming visit is expected to play a crucial role in brokering and fostering further advancements toward normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
