ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied a report published by an Ultra-Orthodox newspaper he was preparing to end his government in return for a Unites States-backed normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
The local newspaper affiliated with the Haredi Jewish Political Party Agudat Yisrael reported that Netanyahu had resigned and would receive the long-awaited Saudi normalization deal and plea bargain for his criminal trials as part of his resignation.
It added that the Prime Minister resigned with an understanding that he ‘cannot manage the country in Israel’s current political state’.
Likud, the major right-wing Political Party in Israel where Netanyahu serves as chairperson, slammed the report as a ‘farfetched fabrication’.
The Political Party clarified there were no steps taken to change the current makeup of the government in exchange for the peace deal between Israel and Saudi.
Both countries do not have any diplomatic ties, while Saudi Arabia refused to recognize Israel as a state since the latter gained independence in 1948.
But Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year said the oil-rich country views Israel as a ‘potential ally’ but emphasized more must be done to solve problems between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Meanwhile, a local correspondent for the times of Israel previously said the reason why the US is pushing for a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not for the sake of peace itself but to cut off the growing ties between Saudi Arabia and China as well as the Saudis and Iranians.
Experts warned the deal could leave Palestinians behind, and Washington may need to pay a high price for pushing its interests in the Middle East.
