How the Saudi Regime Protects the Saudi-Zionist Current in the Kingdom

Amidst the escalation of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the massacres committed against Palestinians, Mohammed bin Salman has taken steps to protect a Saudi-Zionist current that defends Israel and demonizes Palestinian resistance factions.

It has become clear that a Saudi-Zionist current, driven by governmental inclinations, has undertaken the mission of opposing the Palestinian cause, demonizing Palestinians, and endorsing and polishing the Israeli occupation.

This current deals with Israelis as if they were angels, possessing the right to the land, living, and fellowship. Its influence has grown significantly since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, according to the opposition newspaper “Sawt al-Nas.”

After the Arab Spring and with the rise of bin Salman to power, new and previously unknown voices emerged among writers, journalists, media figures, and activists who spoke about what they called the “right of Zionists in Palestine.” They adopted anti-Palestinian rhetoric, claimed that the government had done everything for the Palestinian cause, and promoted the notion that rapprochement with the occupier should be a reality.

Events have increasingly revealed that these voices are nothing more than mercenaries and flatterers operating within the orbit of the ruling authorities, laying the groundwork to prepare the Saudi people for normalizing relations with the “unpopular” Israeli occupation. Bin Salman revealed less than 20 days before the “Storm of Al-Aqsa” operation on October 7 that Riyadh and Tel Aviv were close to achieving this.

As Israeli bombardment on Gaza escalated, destroying infrastructure, targeting hospitals, and killing nearly 10,000 Palestinians, including children and women, the Saudi current adopted the Israeli narrative, justifying its brutal crimes and aggression. They declared that “Israel is not my issue,” and did not hesitate to appear on Israeli channels to express support for the occupation.

Notably, Saudi journalist Abdul Aziz Al-Khamis, known for his absolute support of the occupation, tweeted at the onset of the “Storm of Al-Aqsa” operation, celebrating the mosque and Palestinian prisoners, that what happened was Israel’s September 11. He claimed that the operation aimed at the defense agreement between Riyadh and Washington and the Saudi nuclear program.

In a tweet he later deleted, Al-Khamis wrote: “The survival of Israel is a stabilizing factor in the region, and it is not in the Gulf’s interest for this balance to be disrupted. It represents, in one way or another, protection for the Gulf from Iran. While the UAE represents the political and economic face of the Middle East, Israel represents the European and Western face in the region.”

In another tweet, he claimed that images broadcast from Gaza of children martyrs due to Israeli bombardment are mere theatrics. In an interview with Israeli Channel Kan, he spoke as if he were an Israeli hostile to Palestinians, saying: “If the war ends without eliminating Hamas, it is a defeat for the free world… Hamas must end for Gaza to live in safety and stability.”

Hussain Al-Ghawy tried to adopt the Zionist narrative by labeling resistance movements as “terrorist.” After the Israeli occupation began a ground invasion of Gaza, which Palestinians resisted, Al-Ghawy warned against glorifying the resistance, claiming that the real concern was not Israel but Saudi Arabia, Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan.

Al-Ghawy, known for promoting the Zionist narrative, claimed that Palestinians mistreat Israeli prisoners: “Our brothers in Palestine have suffered greatly from a usurping and terrorist entity and tools addicted to betrayal and mercenarism under the guise of resistance.”

Saudi writer Rawaf Al-Saeen, known for his anti-Palestinian and pro-occupation views, offended Palestinians by calling on Gulf states to expel them and not allow them entry, claiming they would be a cause of moral decay and corruption.

In a video circulated on social media, he incited against Palestinians residing in Gulf countries and Arab states in general, saying: “Enemies, with one phone call, expose the country to disintegration and demonstrations.” He added: “Do not let Palestinians near your country if you care about your nation and people… Let them go to Europe and return to their countries of origin.”

The writer has made similar statements over the years, expressing support for normalization and the occupation, and attacking Palestinians. He addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to burn Palestinians and rid the world of them. He also claimed that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be an Arab catastrophe to be borne solely by Arabs.

Following the massacre at the Baptist Hospital, also known as the Arab National Hospital, committed by the Israeli Air Force on October 17, Saudi writer Ibrahim Al-Suleiman published a caricature mocking Palestinians, derived from misleading Israeli narratives accusing Palestinians of the attack.

The drawing, published by Israeli newspapers and shared by Al-Suleiman, depicted a crocodile standing over a group of children crying (implying victims of the Israeli bombardment on the Baptist Hospital). The crocodile’s tears symbolize deception and cunning, luring its prey through weeping and crying.

While Arab and Western peoples were rising in support of Palestinians, condemning Israeli aggression, the killing of civilians, and the bombing of hospitals, and calling for humanitarian aid, Al-Suleiman said: “Those calling for demonstrations and opening borders, and other grand slogans, should be certain that they will not miss their daily TV series and will go to the battlefield.”

Similarly, Saudi researcher and TV presenter Luay Al-Sharif continues to polish the image of the Israeli occupation and demonize Palestinians and opponents of normalization by specializing in social media platforms and YouTube, writing tweets in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, and conducting interviews with Israeli channels.

Tweeter Abdullah Obaid dedicated a series of tweets introducing Luay Al-Sharif, noting that his father is Major Ahmed Al-Sharif of the Egyptian Army. He owns Al-Hudhud Path Educational Group, through which he runs his online language academy, and identifies himself on LinkedIn as a manager at ARETAS PUBLIC RELATIONS, registered in Bahrain.

Obaid pointed out that records show Luay is the owner of the Bahrain-registered company and is of Egyptian nationality, stating: “It seems that Luay has gone through multiple stages in his life, from extremism to joining the U-Turn team by launching and presenting the Film ‘Learn Languages through Films,’ followed by his transformation into a toilet paper for the backs of Zionists after marrying a Jewish woman.”

In reality, the individuals mentioned are just a few examples of those who truly deserve the title of “Arab Zionists.” Their writings and materials reveal that they receive extensive governmental support; otherwise, they would not have a voice in the Kingdom or beyond. Since bin Salman’s rise to power, Saudi authorities have pursued any voices opposing or even showing any dissent from their policies.

These examples are growing in number despite their lack of popular acceptance. Some influencers use their social media platforms to expose them. However, the authorities’ determination to root them in society is clear, as they would not have a prominent voice if they did not align with the crown prince’s interests. The assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul is a recent reminder of this.

It is well-known that bin Salman initiated his reign with a campaign of arrests targeting Palestinians residing in Saudi Arabia and pursuing all sympathizers and activists in the Palestinian cause. His prisons are filled with hundreds of detainees of opinion who support the cause and oppose all forms of normalization with the occupation, including writers, media figures, journalists, human rights activists, and preachers.

Among them are religious scholars Dr. Salman Al-Ouda, Awdh Al-Qarni, Abdulaziz Al-Tarifi, Nasser Al-Omar, Safar Al-Hawali, Khalid Al-Rashed, human rights activists Khalid Al-Omir, Muhammad Al-Rubai’a, Salma Al-Shihab, bloggers Abdulaziz Al-Ouda, Dawood Al-Ali, journalist Maha Al-Rifidi, and academics Ali Al-Omari and Abdullah Al-Malki, among many others who have been deliberately imprisoned.

This is a new approach in the era of Salman and his son, unlike the Kingdom under its founding king Abdulaziz, who repeatedly declared his country’s official position on the Palestinian cause. Notably, in his first interview with the magazine “Lif” published on March 31, 1943, he concluded that the Jews had no right to establish a state in Palestine on the blood of Palestinians.

He said: “I do not know of anything that justifies the Jews’ claim to Palestine, as it was under the rule of the Muhammadans centuries before the Israelites. They were subjected to the Romans at that time, who killed them, scattered them, and left no trace of their rule there. The Arabs took control of it and liberated it from the Romans over a thousand and three hundred years ago, and it has been in the hands of Muslims since then.”

He added: “This shows that the Jews have no right to their claim, as all the countries of the world have been occupied by various peoples who have taken them over and now constitute their homeland. If we were to consider the Jewish theory, many settled peoples should be expelled from their lands, and Palestine is among these lands.”

He continued: “I have no fear of the Jews having a state or authority, whether in Arab lands or elsewhere, according to what our Lord has informed us through His Messenger in His Holy Book. I see that the Jews’ insistence on this land is wrong, firstly because it is an injustice to the Arabs and Muslims in general, and because it leads to discord and turmoil among Muslims and their allies. This is something I see no benefit in.”

He further stated: “If the Jews are in need of a place to reside, Europe, America, and other lands are larger and more fertile than this land and better serve their interests. This is fairness, and there is no benefit in involving allies and Muslims in a problem that yields no benefit. As for the ancient Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, my opinion is that Arabs should agree with their friends to protect their interests.”

He stipulated that the Jews should not engage in actions that would cause trouble and unrest detrimental to everyone, and that they should be guaranteed by allies not to seek to purchase Arab properties, which are vital to their lives, with large sums of money to achieve their goals, warning that this would lead to the destruction and impoverishment of the people of Palestine.

For decades, Abdulaziz’s descendants have continued to rule, and none have dared to normalize relations with the Zionists or officially declare Israel as having a right at the expense of Palestinian blood. Even the Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, aimed to establish a internationally recognized Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, return refugees, and withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for recognition and normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel, was put forward in 2002.