Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that many citizens in Saudi Arabia wish to normalize relations with Israel.
According to a statement by Pompeo reported by Agence France-Presse, he said, "I hope that Saudi Arabia can find its way to join the Abraham Accords. I know many in this country want this to happen." The agency clarified that Pompeo's remarks were made in a recorded video directed to an anti-Semitism opposition movement, which will present him with a "Global Leadership Award" on Monday.
It is worth noting that Pompeo served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and as Secretary of State during former President Donald Trump's administration. The Abraham Accords were brokered by the Trump administration last year, with four Arab nations — the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco — agreeing to establish relations with Israel.
Israeli sources reported that Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in November 2020 in the Saudi city of Neom, overlooking the Red Sea. The meeting, which was denied by Riyadh, sparked speculation in Israel about the possibility of approaching an agreement to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. However, the kingdom has publicly emphasized its long-standing policy of not establishing relations with Israel until a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is achieved.