The Palestinian delegation that left for Saudi Arabia today will try to influence the content of a future agreement between Israel and the Saudis, but it is very doubtful whether it will be able to change the moves being made between the Kingdom and the US, mainly.

Today the talks between the Palestinians and the Saudis were held and tomorrow, contrary to the plan, there will be no tripartite meetings. The reason, according to the Arab media, lies in the American refusal to respond to the demands of the Palestinians, including a consulate in East Jerusalem, the opening of PLO offices in the United States and membership in the United Nations. The American delegation, which also went to Riyadh, came to check the moves that would please the Palestinians and make them a party to an imminent agreement.

The talks in Saudi Arabia come after the Palestinian's meeting with Naif Sadairi, the new Saudi ambassador to the Palestinian Authority. The Saudi "Alaf" newspaper reported the other day, indicating how advanced the talks are, that recently there were consultations between the Palestinians and the Saudis on how to transfer the Saudi money to the Palestinian Authority officials who are in the Strip.

According to the newspaper, the funds will only be transferred through bank accounts and under a joint supervision mechanism to the Saudis, Jordanians, Egyptians and Palestinians. Palestinian officials confirmed that the talks came in the shadow of a report by the Wall Street Journal, which recently claimed that the Saudis are ready to increase their support for the Palestinians, "as a softening step" towards a possible agreement with Israel.

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The Saudi newspaper also reported that Saudi Arabia demands from the Palestinian Authority to act for political unity and the return of its governance in the West Bank territories, and alongside these has committed to a two-state solution and recognition of the PLO as the legitimate Palestinian representative.

The talks are not yet until the end of the month, but a senior Palestinian official is severely criticizing the Palestinian willingness to discuss with the Saudis the terms of the agreement that is apparently progressing behind the scenes between Saudi Arabia and Israel. In a conversation with us he said, "The very Palestinian presence in Saudi Arabia is legitimizing the Israeli occupation without receiving a significant political return." The source added, "Saudi Arabia may be revealed to have laid a political ambush on the Palestinians."

According to him, they are joined by other factors, "the Saudi train has set off and it may also run over the Palestinians", since, in his estimation, "the Saudi interest outweighs the Palestinian cause".

The source also said, "The appointment of the Saudi ambassador to the Palestinian Authority and Ron Dermer's statements about Israel's willingness to review the nuclear issue, which Saudi Arabia demands, are extremely dangerous indications from the point of view of the Palestinians," and added, "An agreement with the new Saudi Arabia is a first-rate Israeli strategic achievement in the Middle East, Far beyond the agreements with the other countries of the Abrahamic Agreements."

According to him, "the talks that took place between the Palestinian Authority and the US, including the Abbas and Linken talks, were designed to pressure the Palestinians and not to get their consent, since this is a very important step for the Americans who want to present a political achievement before the elections and the Palestinians are in a very bad agreement, an equality-breaking step for Israel" .

It should be noted that Abu Mazen chose a different strategy this time in contrast to the one formulated by the Palestinians when the Abraham Accords were signed. Now, the Palestinian Authority is trying to integrate into the talks between the Saudis and the Americans and between the Americans and the Israelis, in order to be present in the agreement, and this, of course, with the understanding that they cannot oppose it.

The Palestinian source added in this regard and said, "The Palestinians must refrain from giving the blessing of the road even though they are aware that they have no power to prevent the movements of the Saudi giant ship." According to him, "The Palestinians must express opposition to the agreement and coordinate moves with Jordan on the issue of the holy places and with the Egyptians, who will be affected by the agreement that will bring Saudi Arabia to the influential factor in the region at their expense."

He also called "to act to establish an inter-Arab committee that will examine the issue and not leave the Palestinians alone in the face of the Saudi giant." "Why are there those in Israel who say that it is better not to have an agreement, if the price is a nuclear weapon in Saudi Arabia, while there is no one in the Palestinian leadership who says that the agreement should be opposed and not accepted at all costs?" asked the Palestinian source.

And in the same matter it should be noted that Saudi Arabia does not authorize Ministers Yoav Kish and Eli Cohen to attend the UNESCO conference expected soon in Riyadh, however in Israel they estimate that the professional level will be allowed to participate. Minister Yoav Kish's office replied "no comment".
As I recall, Saudi Arabia pledged to allow Israeli representatives to participate in the conference in Riyadh, and after long negotiations, the Saudis signed a "host country agreement" in which they pledged to allow representatives of all countries, including Israel, to participate in the conference that will open on September 10.

Source: Baruch Yadid - Telegram - Photo: Reuters