Trump ally says Saudi Crown Prince MBS told him he could recognize Israel ‘today’
Key Points:
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman privately told evangelical leader Mike Evans that he is ready to recognize Israel immediately, but his father, King Salman, remains the main obstacle to normalization.
- Evans reported that MBS criticized the Palestinians for wasting money and opposing Israel, and rejected the idea of dividing Jerusalem into two capitals, suggesting a strong pro-Israel stance.
- US President Donald Trump is pushing for a broader expansion of the Abraham Accords to include countries like Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey as part of a strategy linked to a potential Iran deal.
- Evans emphasized Trump's significant negotiating leverage in the region and framed the Abraham Accords as a strategic alliance against Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Within the US conservative movement, Evans described efforts by his organization to counter anti-Israel narratives promoted by figures like Tucker Carlson, who has reportedly lost favor with Trump, while warning of Gulf funding influencing anti-Israel sentiment online.