The Saudi-Israeli Normalization Process

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has announced that there will be a long and incremental normalization process between Israel and Saudi Arabia. What does this mean? This most likely suggests a bottom-up approach with economic ties and military cooperation preceding diplomatic recognition. It also suggests a carefully calibrated American-Israeli-Saudi triangular relationship where American-Saudi relations are deepened in parallel with increasingly deepened Saudi-Israeli relations. Obviously, the most urgent aspect of the relationship is regional military cooperation where Saudi Arabia will play a most vital role. This approach certainly makes sense considering that MBS is not yet fully in control of Saudi Arabia with the Wahhabi deep state still powerful and considering the controversial nature of the subject of normalization with Israel in Saudi Arabia, including within the royal family.