Sep 12, 2011

Saudi Arabia's Exploitation of Palestinian UN Bid

Caroline GlickBy Caroline B. Glick
CarolineGlick.com

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The Saudis effectively ended their strategic alliance with the US in the aftermath of the US-supported overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. Since then the Saudis have strengthened their ties to China and Russia and from what I understand have refused to sign any new oil contracts with the Americans.

Now in this op-ed in the New York Times, the Saudis are hitching a ride on the Palestinian UN bid to justify their previous abandonment of America.

Saudi Prince Turki Al-FaisalAs my readers are well aware, I think that the US's abandonment of Mubarak was one of the greatest strategic errors the US has ever committed. But of course, the Saudis can't play the populist/leader of the Muslim world card by opposing the mob in Cairo. And so they never announced their breach with their US patron, which in their mind had lost all credibility as an ally when it ditched Mubarak. But the Palestinians and the war against the Jews is the great populist issue in the Muslim world. And so, aside from everything else, the PLO's UN initiative gives the authoritarian likes of the Saudis a perfect excuse for publicly acknowledging their previous abandonment of the US.

Moreover, the increasingly anti-Jewish American Left will seize on the Saudi claim as proof that the US's alliance with the Jewish state is undermining America's standing in the Arab world.

Oh dear. Things are getting uglier and uglier.


Related Links


US risks being 'toxic' over Palestinian veto: Saudi prince - AFP
US told: support Palestinian UN bid or risk 'toxic' reputation in Arab world - The Guardian
Saudi leader: U.S. hindering Palestine vote could cost alliance - JTA
Saudi prince calls on U.S. to back Palestinian U.N. status - Reuters
Saudi's Threaten US Over PA Bid Veto - Arutz Sheva