The well-known columnist for The New York Times and known ally of Biden called on the President and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, not to reach a normalization agreement between the countries as long as the Netanyahu government is in power.
Thomas Friedman, the American Jewish commentator who is close to President Biden, published a column in The New York Times in which he urged both leaders, President Joe Biden of the United States and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, to refrain from establishing normalization between the countries while the current government is in power.
In his column, Friedman pressed both leaders and urged them to say, "Simply say no to the deal; you cannot do such a thing with an Israeli government that is not normal."
Friedman argues in his column that, "The current Israeli government is composed of extreme right-wing elements who believe in Jewish supremacy, and people of this kind have never held power in Israel's security and national strength before."
Furthermore, Friedman directly addresses President Joe Biden and Mohammed bin Salman, writing to them, "Do not let Netanyahu make you useful idiots; normalization cannot be achieved with an Israeli government that is not normal; it will never be a stable ally for the United States or Saudi Arabia."
Friedman reinforced his argument throughout the column with local quotes, such as that of former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, who, in an interview, likened right-wing parties to "a kind of Ku Klux Klan."
Friedman also suggests using the normalization deal as a tool to dismantle the current government. He raised American interests in such a matter, stating that the United States should turn the normalization discussions into a demand for far-reaching steps towards the Palestinians. According to him, this approach would "dissolve the government if such a proposal is put on the table." He called for comprehensive support for the demand for the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and Gaza Strip in order to bring about the government's dissolution.