Israel plans to pressure the Biden administration to avoid clashes over human rights and other controversial issues with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, senior Israeli defense officials tell me.
Why it’s important: President-elect Biden has vowed to put human rights and democracy at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy and skipped all three when he called on leaders in 17 countries after his election victory. He was particularly critical of Saudi Arabia during the campaign for the war in Yemen and human rights issues.
- Israel sees its security and intelligence relations with the three countries as central to its strategy to fight Iran and an important pillar in regional security.
- Now, Israel fears that Biden will not only seek an agreement with Iran, but also maintain cold relations with the Arab partners in the United States.
Driving the news: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt this week welcomed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s controversial decision to designate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization.
- Israel has not taken a position on the decision – which some Democrats are already pushing for Biden to reverse – but has put a new emphasis on the situation in Yemen in recent weeks.
- This is due in part to threats from Houthis backed by Iran over Israeli transport to the Red Sea, but mainly due to the implications of a new Iranian entrenchment in the country for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Israeli officials say.
- What to see: The Israelis know that Biden will have a very different policy on Yemen from Trump, especially when it comes to the Saudi role in the war. But they plan to encourage the new administration to make sure that political changes do not deepen Iranian influence or jeopardize regional cooperation on other issues.
Behind the scenes: Israeli defense officials told me they plan to present to the Biden administration that the region has changed in the last four years, with a new regional alignment as Israel strengthens its ties with Arab countries.
- Israel hopes the new administration will prioritize this process over its concerns about the war in Yemen or human rights abuses.
- On the one hand: Officials say Israel has encouraged Egypt and Saudi Arabia to take human rights measures to improve the atmosphere of dialogue with the Biden administration.
- To the other: They also plan to warn the Biden team that a crisis in relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt could push these countries away from the US and into Russia and China.
What they say: “We were very close to losing Egypt a few years ago and our message to the Biden administration will be,‘ Take it slow, there have been dramatic changes, don’t come with predispositions and don’t harm relations with Saudi Arabia. , Egypt and the UAE, ”a senior Israeli official told me.