According to Times of Israel news reports, the decision comes amid rapidly evolving US political dynamics, with Netanyahu choosing to wait to see whether former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, will win the election.
The report highlights significant implications of this decision, including its impact on potential ceasefire negotiations and hostage deals. Normalization with Saudi Arabia would have served as a strategic advantage for Netanyahu, providing a potential boost in the event of a crisis within his right-wing coalition over a Gaza deal. Such normalization could have offered Netanyahu a powerful political asset and the chance to secure a historic legacy.
This report emerges just a week after an Israeli official indicated in Washington, DC that a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia might still be possible before the November election. The official also mentioned that Netanyahu had discussed the issue with US President Joe Biden during their White House meeting.