Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has voiced concerns regarding his personal safety amid ongoing talks with U.S. lawmakers about potentially normalizing relations with Israel.
According to reports, the Crown Prince fears that moving towards peace with Israel could make him susceptible to assassination threats, a risk he articulated during negotiations.
During his conversations with U.S. Congress members, bin Salman compared his situation to that of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated after signing a peace treaty with Israel.
He questioned the protections that the U.S. had in place for Sadat, expressing his own anxieties about the repercussions of a deal that could elicit strong backlash across the Arab world, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Additionally, the Crown Prince highlighted concerns about losing public support within Saudi Arabia, where sentiments heavily favor the Palestinian cause. He reportedly conveyed to U.S. lawmakers that “Saudis care very deeply about this,” underlining the issue’s importance to the broader Middle Eastern community and the potential risks to his role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites.
Details surrounding the potential agreement involving Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Israel remain largely undisclosed, with critical elements still under negotiation. The proposed deal may encompass U.S. security guarantees, assistance for a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, and extensive economic investments. However, the Crown Prince’s concerns underscore the significant risks involved in pursuing such an agreement, as he seeks to balance new diplomatic relationships with maintaining internal stability in his country.