Journalist Nadav Eyal (Yedioth Ahronoth) reports that Saudi and US teams discussed the IMEC trade corridor last week, but Israel is no longer part of the route. Eyal says Israel underestimates the Saudi crown prince's power and that Riyadh insists on progress toward a Palestinian state.
Journalist Nadav Eyal reported on Sunday that Saudi and US teams discussed the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) trade corridor last week, but that Israel is no longer on the route. According to Eyal, the Saudi crown prince is not a champion of the Palestinians and a Palestinian state is not a burning issue for him, but the kingdom's perception holds that progress with Israel cannot proceed without change regarding the Palestinians.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the IMEC corridor's shifting dynamics. On July 10, The Zioneer reported that Saudi Arabia was reassessing the corridor and considering a route via Syria instead of Israel. An i24NEWS report on July 8 indicated Saudi Arabia was advancing a plan to exclude Israel and reroute via Syria. Several reports have highlighted the strategic challenge to Israel, including a July 5 bulletin on Turkey and Syria seeking to replace Israel in the corridor.
Eyal's analysis suggests that Israeli policymakers may not be fully grasping the leverage held by the Saudi crown prince, and that the kingdom's insistence on the Palestinian issue remains a key obstacle to normalization and regional integration.
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia reassesses IMEC trade corridor, considers route via Syria instead of Israel
- DevelopingTurkey, Syria seeking to replace Israel in IMEC trade corridor, report says
- DevelopingN12 analyst: Turkey, Israel in all-out race over rival IMEC trade corridors
- DevelopingIsrael's Consul General in Dubai visits Haifa Port, discusses IMEC trade corridor
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