The trend toward Arab normalization with Israel appears to have lost momentum since the end of the presidency of Donald Trump (2017-21), who promoted such initiatives. No country has joined the Abraham Accords since Morocco in Dec. 2020. 

As part of efforts to change this, Israel’s leadership is particularly keen on formalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, seen by Israeli officials and citizens as the “crown jewel” of the Arab normalization process due to the Kingdom’s power and status in the region. The nature of Israel’s current government, made up of an alliance of right-wing and extremist parties led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, means that prospect is unlikely in the near future. Nonetheless, unofficial ties between Riyadh and Tel Aviv will likely continue to grow.

Israel’s public desire

Netanyahu—back in power for a sixth term as prime minister following the Nov. 2022 elections—has publicly made clear his desire to normalize relations with Riyadh. Late last year, he told Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya that a diplomatic deal with the Kingdom would be a “quantum leap” that would...