Israeli writer: Saudi Arabia is Israel’s lifeline to preserve its dignity after the war

The Israeli writer Brian Bloom stated in an opinion article published in the Hebrew newspaper “Jerusalem Post” that “Saudi Arabia is Israel’s lifeline after the war, to achieve something to save face.”

In his article, Bloom mentioned that “there is no complete victory in Gaza, and Israel must do something to save face.”

Bloom added, “Israel is losing the war with Hamas in Gaza, and this is the only conclusion that can be drawn after eight months since the October 7 attack, as Hamas brigades are still on the ground, hostages are still held, and the movement is capable of launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv.”

He explained, “This is what most Israelis currently believe, citing a poll conducted by the Israeli Democracy Institute before the operation in Nusseirat, which showed that only 34% of those surveyed feel optimistic about the future of national security.”

Bloom continued that “the Jewish People Policy Institute observed in May that only 38% of Israelis expressed high confidence in the possibility of achieving victory, while a larger number, about 41%, have ‘little confidence’ in Israel achieving victory.”

According to the writer, “much of this lack of confidence stems from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners’ refusal to engage in discussions about the day after the Gaza war plan.”

Bloom questions how the situation could change if victory is not achieved, saying, “If we cannot win or if the general public loses confidence, how can we change the situation?” He emphasized that it requires thinking outside the box, and fortunately, the box is on the table if our government has the courage to open it. The answer lies in the East with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The writer added that “Saudi Arabia widely signals its desire to normalize relations with Israel, as indicated by President Joe Biden’s proposal to halt Israeli gunfire in three stages and propose releasing hostages. With Netanyahu’s reluctance to allow a foothold for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Saudis and Emiratis can undertake this task.”

He further stated, “Saudi Arabia has significant demands from Israel, including a credible path to establishing a Palestinian state, opposed vehemently by many Israelis and the current government. The Israeli side cannot rely on Hamas to approve the proposed plan. However, if Israel fails to win the war against Hamas, perhaps it’s time to seize the opportunity for a different approach.”

The writer believes that “if Netanyahu adopts normalization with Saudi Arabia, it would change the entire region, ensuring Israel’s position in a Middle Eastern alliance against Iran and its proxies, as well as rehabilitating Netanyahu’s tarnished image, which might otherwise collapse his coalition but could lead him to retire after making deals previously unthinkable with former Arab adversaries.”

Bloom pointed out that “making a deal with Saudi Arabia and ending the Gaza war could mitigate the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court’s stance toward Israel and its leaders. This might prompt Israeli judges investigating Netanyahu for corruption and bribery charges to reach a more favorable recognition deal. Without such a step, Netanyahu could end up in prison in Israel or abroad if one of the 120 countries pledged to detain him should the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant.”

He concluded his article by saying, “Israel can change the rules of the game and improve the country’s position under a new government without right-wing extremists like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, a step that could return it to prudent governance.”