Trump-MBS Meeting Reveals Tensions Over Abraham Accords: New Details Emerge

Tensions Rise in Trump-MBS Meeting Over Abraham Accords

Axios reported this week on new details of former US President Donald Trump's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, stating that the tension in private conversations between the two leaders was far greater than previously known, with significant disagreements on policy toward Israel.

Axios noted that while the two leaders exchanged pleasantries in front of cameras, certain aspects of the private discussions were tense. Officials described Trump feeling frustrated by the Crown Prince's refusal to join the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia's Stance on the Palestinian Issue

Bin Salman clarified his position, that there must be a firm commitment to a "two-state solution" involving the Palestinians before Saudi Arabia would join the agreement.

Reportedly, in closed-door meetings, the Crown Prince pushed back when Trump pressured him to formally join the Abraham Accords aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.

Impact of Gaza War on Saudi Public Opinion

Bin Salman reportedly argued that Saudi public sentiment had sharply turned against Israel after the Gaza war, and that he must represent his people at this moment.

Axios emphasized that Trump was "applying a lot of pressure" on this issue at the November 18 meeting. An unnamed government official explained after the meeting: "The best adjective is disappointed and annoyed. President Trump really wanted them to join the Abraham Accords. He tried very hard to convince him. It was a frank discussion. But bin Salman is a strong man. He stuck to his position.""

Saudi Demand for an "Irreversible Path" to Palestinian Statehood

Saudi Arabia insists that Israel agree to provide an "irreversible, credible, and time-bound path" to Palestinian statehood, but the Netanyahu government has firmly rejected this possibility, especially after the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Another US official said: "Bin Salman never said no to normalization. The door is open and it can be done later. But the 'two-state solution' is the issue.""

The Aftermath of the October 7 Attacks

There has long been speculation that Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 was driven by fears that the issue of Palestinian statehood would be permanently sidelined as more regional countries joined the Abraham Accords.

According to this theory, the aim of this blatant and history-altering attack was to sow seeds of deep division once again between the "Arab world" and Israel. To some extent, this may have succeeded as a broader geopolitical goal, as the Abraham Accords have indeed stalled.

But this has also backfired, as Iran and Hezbollah are weaker than ever, and the Syrian government was weakened a year ago. These are key, well-equipped, and historically significant resistance forces to Israeli expansion and Zionist hegemony.