As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House, pivotal moments in the past few weeks make it abundantly clear that the climate for both US and Israeli foreign policy will be very different next January.
Israel would be well advised to understand that it cannot continue to ignore the global call for justice and peace. Led by Saudi Arabia, the region is showing a unity and assertiveness not seen in years, and is having an influence worldwide.
Statements from Saudi leaders and the outcomes of international summits indicate that the era of unchecked Israeli actions is coming to an end. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do well to pay close attention: the geopolitical environment is no longer one he can control through political maneuvering or the goodwill of the US or other sympathetic allies.
At last month’s Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made a powerful and unambiguous statement. Asked about the possibility of a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, he told Becky Anderson of CNN that such a deal was “off the table.” This is a message that Israel should interpret as a red line, not a negotiating tactic. There is no mood in the region for another round of Abraham Accords that ignore Palestinian statehood.
Whether Israel still cares about normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Muslim world is irrelevant. Its leaders should realize that with so much blood on their hands, nobody will be willing to shake them: in fact, the mood now is for Israel to be punished for its violations and held accountable under international law.
Saudi Arabia again took a public and uncompromising stance against Israeli aggression at this week’s Arab-Islamic Summit. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not mince words in addressing the escalating violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Describing Israel’s actions as genocide, the crown prince called for the international community to recognize the devastation being wreaked upon the Palestinian people. His condemnation was met with unanimous support in the summit’s final communique, which reinforced Saudi Arabia’s push for a unified stance on the Palestinian issue and a commitment to the two-state solution: which, since it is already accepted by the UN, does not legally need Israel’s approval.
For decades, the concept of a two-state solution has been the global consensus for peace between Israel and Palestine. But with each passing year, Israel’s expansionist policies and the continued suffering in Gaza erode this possibility, leaving the region on the brink of perpetual conflict. Saudi Arabia’s leadership, however, offers a way forward, not just for Palestinians, but for regional stability. The Kingdom’s recent moves reflect an effort to build a coalition of nations committed to real solutions, not just words. From Riyadh to Rabat, from Cairo to Jakarta, Muslim-majority nations are coming together to insist on Palestinian self-determination and an end to the violence that has plagued the region for generations.
For Netanyahu, the situation could not be clearer. His long-standing strategy of appealing to Western allies while ignoring the Arab and Muslim world is now facing a stern test. He may be counting on the support of a sympathetic administration in Washington, but there are limits to what that can shield him from. The days when the US could unconditionally veto international action against Israel are fading. A new American leadership will take office with a united Arab and Islamic world, along with a substantial portion of the international community, all pushing for accountability and a concrete two-state solution.
One need only look at the legal landscape to understand the pressure now mounting on Israel. Legal action for its actions in Gaza has already reached international courts, including the International Criminal Court, with allegations of war crimes and genocide. Netanyahu and his government might believe that they are immune to such legal repercussions, or that international law can be circumvented by powerful allies. However, as Saudi Arabia has shown, the tide is turning. The era of impunity is being challenged, and the global coalition building around Palestine is not one Israel can simply brush off.
At the core of this shift is the undeniable reality of Gaza. The horrors that have unfolded there cannot be dismissed as collateral damage or “self-defense.” It is, by many accounts and definitions, genocide, the systematic destruction of a people. Images of children suffering, families torn apart, and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble have mobilized people worldwide. The world, including Israel's neighbors, is saying “enough.” Saudi Arabia’s stance is not isolated: it is part of a growing demand for accountability. Israel cannot hope to maintain its current trajectory without facing consequences.
It is worth noting that Netanyahu’s government had the opportunity to forge historic alliances in the Middle East: a future in which Israel coexists peacefully with the GCC states and the broader Arab and Muslim world was within reach. Instead, by continuing down this path of violence and neglect of human rights, Israel has alienated potential allies and placed itself under scrutiny from international bodies. The choice of peace or isolation remains in Netanyahu’s hands, but the moment to choose is rapidly slipping away.
For Israel, the writing is on the wall. Saudi Arabia, with its influence as both a regional powerhouse and religious leader, is making it clear that the path to peace lies in respecting Palestinian rights and pursuing a genuine two-state solution. Israel must abandon its current approach and realize that there is no longer any “luck” left to rely on. As a global coalition forms, Israel has two options: it can either join the path to peace or find itself increasingly isolated on the world stage.
Israel’s future now hinges on its willingness to embrace a true, sustainable peace. The Arab world, led by Saudi Arabia, is ready to support this vision, but it will not compromise on the principles of justice and dignity. It is time for Israel to wake up to the new realities, or risk losing far more than it stands to gain by continuing its current policies.
- Faisal J. Abbas is the editor in chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas