Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, said that Ibrahim’s deals were due “to the escalation of the Iranian threat”, as he said, noting that he had devoted much of his life “to strengthening Israel’s military power, which can only be improved”.
Netanyahu also said that Ibrahim’s agreements did not happen “without Saudi Arabia’s approval,” adding that the kingdom “is moving towards normalization,” as he said.
“When Israel became a pioneer – a leading country if not the leading innovative country that has produced thousands of startups, produced cyber security and produced unprecedented intelligence against terrorism, we became a source of great interest to other countries across 5 continents. , and also in the Middle East, “Netanyahu said.
He added: “When I openly led an opposition against the arming of Iran with nuclear weapons, it created a mutual interest with the Arab countries. Hence the rise of the Iranian threat on the one hand and the rise of Israeli power from the ‘other, combined, has created an interest in the Gulf states that now do not see Israel as an enemy. ” Iran, but as its indispensable ally to counter a common threat, Iran, and to improve the lives of its citizens with Israel’s innovation and technology “.
As for normalization with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said: “The first thing you have to admit is that Saudi Arabia has already started a gradual process of normalization, because in 2018, before the Ibrahim agreement in 2020, the Saudis they opened Saudi airspace to hundreds of thousands of Israelis who were able to fly into the Gulf states and now beyond the Gulf states. It was a well-considered decision. “
He also noted that “it is not possible that Ibrahim’s agreement with the Gulf states could come about without the consent of Saudi Arabia. So the kingdom is moving towards normalization. I think it is going in that direction, that would be the my main diplomatic goal if I re-elect myself, as I hope will happen in a few weeks, “he said.
