Graham aimed to reach Israel-Saudi normalization before end of year as prize for Iran war - report

Late US Senator Lindsey Graham actively pursued an Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization agreement before the end of the year, viewing it as a significant potential outcome of the ongoing conflict with Iran. Graham reportedly believed that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz could prompt Arab countries to engage in new diplomatic arrangements with Israel, similar to the Abraham Accords.

According to Axios, Graham aimed to finalize the deal between October, coinciding with Israeli elections, and November, before the new US Congress convened. He advocated for an "overwhelming" military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if diplomatic efforts failed. Graham also identified two crucial factors for the deal: securing sufficient Democratic votes in the US Congress and ensuring the next Israeli government's willingness to meet Saudi Arabia's normalization demands.

While Graham pushed for normalization, reports indicate Saudi Arabia is seeking to alter the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Sources suggest a new proposal aims to reroute the corridor through Syria, thereby excluding Israel. The original plan designated Israel's port of Haifa as a key connection point between the Middle East and Europe.

Samantha Sutton, a fellow at the Atlantic Council, stressed the importance for Israel not to miss the opportunity to be part of the IMEC initiative. She noted that Haifa was planned as a target port within the initiative, with infrastructure improvements slated to facilitate commerce among Europe, India, and the Middle East. The potential rerouting through Syria represents a significant shift from the initial vision for the economic corridor.