Contrary to previous reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to wait to pursue normalization with Saudi Arabia until after the US 2024 election, according to Channel 12.

Netanyahu is reportedly waiting for the election outcome to see if Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump will be elected.

Netanyahu isn’t entirely in control of the timeline of Saudi normalization; The Times of Israel reported in July that time had already run out for a Saudi deal before the November elections.

The US would also draft a mutual defense pact with Riyadh as part of the normalization agreement. However, there doesn’t appear to be enough time before the US elections.

A Democratic lawmaker and a senior Republican Senate aide indicated that there are not enough days left in the congressional calendar to hold the necessary hearings and obtain the required legislative ratification for such a formal security alliance.

Between the summer recess and the break taken from September 27 until the national vote, less than four weeks of work are left in the Capitol.

Even if the Senate is successfully convened during recess, the two sources said that not enough Republicans would back the treaty to push it through.

According to the U.S. Constitution, treaties must be approved by two-thirds of the upper body of Congress.

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