Biden needs to back Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s visit to Saudi Arabia this weekend for talks with Saudi leaders – including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – will offer Sullivan an excellent opportunity to discuss with the Crown Prince the Saudi –based Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution published on 8 June 2022.
Sullivan told the Washington Institute the US was still working toward a deal to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“Ultimately, getting to full normalisation is a declared national security interest of the United States. We have been clear about that. Now as a sign of my seriousness about how much we’re focused on this and how seriously we are taking this, I am not going to say anything further lest I upset the efforts we are undertaking on this issue.”
The pathway to such full normalisation involves a resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
However, this does not necessarily involve the creation of a new State between Israel and Jordan – as the New York Times reported on 9 March:
“Saudi officials have said they cannot forge normal relations with Israel — a step that would include formal diplomatic interactions and likely also trade and travel agreements — before a Palestinian state is established. But some people familiar with the discussions said they believe the Saudis, who have been building closer unofficial ties to Israel, would settle for less than that. “
The “less than that” could involve implementing the Saudi-based Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution published in the Saudi Government-controlled Al Arabiya News on 8 June 2022 – calling for the merger of Jordan, Gaza and part of the West Bank into one territorial entity to be called “The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine” – to be ruled by the Hashemites – with its capital being in Amman – not Jerusalem (Saudi Solution).
The Plan was authored by Ali Shihabi – a confidant of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and a member of the Crown Prince’s advisory board on Neom – a $500 billion megacity of the future being constructed in north-western Saudi Arabia on an area of land the size of Israel.
This Saudi Solution:
- Trashes the creation of a new state between Israel and Jordan – pursued by both the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas for decades – and still by the Biden administration
- Shreds Saudi Foreign Policy adopted for the last 20 years – and adopted by the Arab Peace Initiative – calling for Israel to totally withdraw from Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and enable the creation of a Palestinian state there – with its capital being in Jerusalem
- Involves the Hashemites – not the PLO or Hamas – returning to govern part of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) – as the Hashemites did between 1950 and 1967.
- Recognises Israeli sovereignty in part of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) for the first time in 3500 years.
Remarkably Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Arab League Secretary Ahmed Aboul Gheit have not rejected this Saudi-solution in the eleven months since its publication – despite its reversal of their respective long-pursued policies.
Sullivan told the Washington Institute:
“And we are working to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords, supporting Israel’s ultimate, final, complete integration into the Middle East region and the world. And this will be an area of continuing emphasis and focus for us over the coming period as we look to add more countries and to bring Israel even more deeply into the web of relationships in the Middle East and beyond.”
Biden’s backing for the Saudi Solution could be the circuit breaker and game changer needed to make this happen.
Please join my Facebook Page: “Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine supporters”
Author’s note: The cartoon — commissioned exclusively for this article — is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones”- one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators — whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades.
David Singer is a Sydney lawyer and a foundation member of the International Analysts Network
