THREAD-Big. Not just meeting but Israel making it public via sources. Bibi did not cfm nor deny. Saudis wont confirm but hard to deny now There’ve been secret meetings before, coordinating on security/Iran. So why make this public in what was prob coordinated move? Clear msg.
There may have been talk of mil ops ahead of Jan 20. But 1 of KEY objectives for MbS is to fend off pressure from Congress, new Biden admin. Hostility comes from R’s+D’s (Yemen, Khashoggi) Biden said no more blank checks. MbS needs to secure his position, become indispensable
Short of public meetings/peace agrmnt, even dangling prospect of ties w/Israel will go long way to buy breathing space and welcome back from the cold.
2nd objective: help maintain anti-Iran camp and get ahead of any moves by Biden on engaging Iran by shaping facts on ground.
Big gamble domestically and regionally to be out as Israel’s new friend. Anything beyond such meetings and Saudis will have to deliver something to Saudi public, Arab audiences. So what can Israel give them on Palestinian issue or other?
WSJ spoke to 2 unnamed Saudi gov advisors who confirmed meeting. Officially, Saudi Arabia has just denied it-- Saudi FM @FaisalbinFarhan who was in meeting with Pompeo + MBS told me moments ago "I am certain no meeting between the Crown Prince and any Israeli official happened"
That could leave room for meetings between Bibi and other Saudi officials. Saudi FM told me he didn't meet any Israeli officials in Neom/Saudi yesterday. I asked if there were Israeli visitors to Saudi/Neom yesterday/last few days. "Not as far as I'm aware".
Whatever the acrobatics, in diplomacy or language, the story is now out there and serving a purpose.
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THREAD: many in Lebanon were expecting drama of high profile indictment like Milosevic trial, this was never going to be the case. Tho it acquitted 3 defendants, @STLebanon found 4th guilty. Remember the tribunal had no mandate to prosecute states or parties.
But UN tribunal has now determined beyond doubt that key operative in Hezbollah, a highly centralized political group/militant org, was guilty in plot to assassinate former premier Rafiq Hariri in 05, a politically motivated plot that wud benefit Hezb and patrons in Damascus.
If there is no direct evidence that leadership of Hezbollah and Syria gave orders it doesn’t mean they are innocent just that the evidence of guilt was not there partly because tribunal was limited to individuals.
1 THREAD: Middle East waking up to incredible news of Qassem Suleimani's killing in US strike in Iraq, at Baghdad airport. He had reportedly just flown back from Beirut. He was like a Middle East viceroy, trotting around region, giving orders, masterminding small and large ops
2 A combination of elation, relief and fear here in the region among people who suffered tremendously from Suleimani's policies, from Lebanon to Syria and Iraq. Elation and relief because he was seen as the evil mastermind of policies of death and destruction...
3 ...propping up bloodthirsty oppressive militias, overseeing a devastating war in Syria, feeding/playing on sectarian hatred, helping crack down on protestors in Iran (2009/2017/2019), Iraq now, and likely more recently helping Hezb to navigate protests in Lebanon.