▲ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia's approval to launch airstrikes against Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi rebels, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on the 13th (local time), citing diplomatic sources.
According to the report, Prime Minister Netanyahu is seeking Saudi permission, mediated by the United States, so that Israel can intervene in the decade-long civil war in Yemen.
This is interpreted as an intention by Israel to advance relations with Saudi Arabia and ultimately lay the groundwork for a diplomatic normalization agreement.
The strategy appears to exploit Saudi Arabia's difficult position amid the Houthis' offensive, which has gained control over the Red Sea region with unprecedented military capability and even threatened the Saudi mainland.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom's de facto ruler, is reportedly reluctant to grant permission, concerned that Israel's military intervention would negatively impact domestic public opinion.
Given that Crown Prince Mohammed currently serves as Saudi Prime Minister, the likelihood of Israel's intervention materializing without his final approval remains slim.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who signed the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020 during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump, has long sought to expand the accords by normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Sunni Islamic world.
However, Saudi Arabia has delayed normalization with Israel, citing the resolution of the Palestinian issue and other reasons.
Saudi Arabia maintains its stance that it can only normalize relations with Israel once an independent Palestinian state is established.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly stated through recent election campaigns and other occasions that he cannot accept the establishment of a Palestinian state.
(Photo: Video capture provided by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Yonhap News)
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