Saudi Media's Anti-Israel Turn: A Diplomatic Chill in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia's state-backed media has been adopting an increasingly anti-Israel tone, signaling a significant cooling in the prospects for diplomatic normalization between these two Middle Eastern powers. This shift in rhetoric is not merely a spontaneous development but is deeply rooted in the kingdom's escalating regional rivalry with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Escalating Rhetoric and Public Sentiment
In a striking example, a January editorial in the Saudi daily Al Riyadh sharply criticized Israel for allegedly disregarding international law and state sovereignty. The editorial stated, "Wherever Israel is present, there is ruin and destruction." This sentiment has been amplified by Saudi clerics, such as Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, who during a December sermon prayed, "Oh God, deal with the Jews who have seized and occupied, for they cannot escape your power."
According to Saudi officials, this media campaign is directed by the kingdom's leadership and specifically targets the UAE's ties with Israel, which are seen as an easy way to sway public opinion. Saudi columnist Ahmed bin Othman Al-Tuwaijri, in an online editorial for Al-Jazirah, accused the UAE of becoming "the Israeli Trojan horse in the Arab world" by aligning with Zionism to settle past grudges.
Drivers Behind the Shift: UAE Rivalry and Gaza War Fallout
The recent change in tone is largely driven by Saudi Arabia's public feud with the UAE, a rival for economic leadership in the Gulf. The UAE is the most prominent signatory of the Abraham Accords—U.S.-backed normalization deals between Israel and Muslim-majority countries. This rivalry has intensified as the two nations take opposing sides in conflicts across the Middle East, including in Yemen.
While Saudi Arabia disputes that the media coverage is government-coordinated, it acknowledges the growing popular anger with Israel, particularly in the wake of the war in Gaza. The conflict's toll has hardened attitudes against Israel, altering the kingdom's calculations. Although Saudi Arabia remains open to normalization if it includes a pathway to a Palestinian state, its urgency has diminished, allowing other foreign-policy priorities to take precedence.
Diplomatic Repercussions and U.S. Concerns
This anti-Israel media campaign has created political challenges for Saudi Arabia in the United States. The Anti-Defamation League has expressed concern over what it describes as prominent Saudi voices making increasingly loud and frequent disparaging comments about Jews, Israel, and the Abraham Accords. Daniel Shapiro, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East in the Biden administration, questioned whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is committed to moderation, noting, "If he's willing to dramatically change course when he's dealing with a rival and competitor, perhaps he isn't as committed to a regional coalition of moderates as we thought."
In response, Saudi Arabia's embassy in the U.S. has reiterated that the kingdom rejects antisemitism and remains open to normalization with Israel, provided there is a commitment to Palestinian statehood. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman recently traveled to Washington, meeting with Jewish groups to emphasize the kingdom's commitment to regional integration.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
This media shift marks a departure from years of efforts to improve Israel's image in Saudi Arabia and prepare its 35 million people for potential formal diplomatic ties. Previously, Saudi media had remained neutral about other Gulf countries' decisions to normalize relations with Israel and had even criticized Hamas for its role in the Gaza war, in contrast to Qatar-based Al Jazeera.
Saudi Arabia and Israel had come close to a normalization deal in 2023, but the Gaza war altered the landscape. Saudi Arabia has since toughened its demand for a Palestinian state pathway, a condition opposed by many Israelis following Hamas's October 7 attacks. Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, noted, "Israel has chosen for now to shelve the normalization, because it's not willing to pay the price the Saudis have demanded."
Regional Dynamics and Saudi-UAE Tensions
The Saudi pivot away from Israel and the UAE has been accompanied by strengthened relations with Israeli adversaries like Pakistan and Turkey. Riyadh signed a defense pact with Pakistan in September and is in talks to include Turkey in a security alliance. Meanwhile, Saudi-UAE tensions have reached their lowest point since the Emirates gained independence in the 1970s, according to Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute.
Despite this rivalry, Ibish compared it to familial infighting that may ultimately be resolved, given their overlapping geopolitical, security, and economic interests. He suggested, "Without a doubt, a thaw between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi will almost certainly come before normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia."
As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues to push modernization efforts, such as lifting the alcohol ban, the kingdom's media strategy reflects a complex balancing act between domestic sentiment, regional competition, and international diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, monitoring these developments, emphasized that any party seeking normalization must not align with forces opposing peace, while expressing continued interest in ties with a strong and secure Israel.
