Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, on Wednesday said his country was keen to establish diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia.
“I think there is a window of opportunity right now,” Mr Herzog said. “This [US] administration would like to do it, our government would like to do it, I understand there is Saudi openness to doing it.”
The Biden administration has said that helping Saudi Arabia and Israel to establish diplomatic relations was a “priority.”
Administration officials have made several trips to the region in recent months, meeting Israeli, Saudi and Palestinian leaders to discuss what a deal might look like.
Mr Herzog was speaking at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in the US capital for the third anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which saw the UAE and Bahrain establish relations with Israel.
He said the Biden administration's efforts to bring about a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia was providing an opportunity for hope.
“I’m more hopeful now than I was a few months ago,” Mr Herzog said.
A Saudi-Israel deal would be a signature foreign policy win for US President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election in 2024.
“It's a real opportunity regarding the potential for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” said Daniel Shapiro, senior advisor for regional integration at the US State Department.
Mr Shapiro, a former US ambassador to Israel under president Barack Obama, was recently given the task of helping to steer the Negev Forum.
Established in 2022, the forum provides a framework for regional co-operation between the UAE, Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and the US.
Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it will not pursue normalisation with Israel until progress towards peace with the Palestinians is achieved.
Mr Shapiro said that there was “potentially a Palestinian component” to a future deal.
Mr Herzog agreed: “I hope that they will draw the conclusion and rather than try to block it this time, they will join.”
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
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UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
