Netanyahu's Saudi Normalization Bid, Elections and Iran War

Netanyahu had been betting in recent years on normalization with Saudi Arabia, and he was broadcasting as if next month would be the month after which all that would happen.

I greatly value the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in refusing to allow such a major historic political development for Benjamin Netanyahu despite pressure from the U.S. administration, and Trump in particular.

There was clear talk of a Palestinian state.

His Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman linked that to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state.

Benjamin Netanyahu did not like this. There is also international momentum, with France, on the question of recognizing a Palestinian state.

Of course, Netanyahu wants to sell Israeli society this bonanza, this grand prize. He deserves no prize at all.

The man is subject to an international arrest warrant on charges of committing war crimes. I don't know what the reaction will be if the right falls and Benjamin Netanyahu loses the election.

I wouldn't be surprised if the reaction were violent, from the right in the Trumpian American sense.

On the question of accepting the results, or...

They had been planning a meeting all along, planning... to criticize these results and claim, for example, that there was fraud among...

The Arabs had pinned it on the Arabs before it happened.

Especially if their numbers are high. This blatant conspiracy was exposed.

Netanyahu will do everything he can to avoid losing control.

How does he view the conflict with... And that could lead, especially... if the Arabs have a role... to Arab lawmakers or Jewish left- wing lawmakers being targeted if Netanyahu loses.

How does he view the conflict and war with Iran in terms of the results?

In terms of who won, who prevailed, or who managed to impose the rules of the game to a greater extent?

How does Israeli society view this politically?

After October 7, Netanyahu used the term “absolute victory.”

... The opposition taunts him, saying, “You haven’t achieved any absolute victory on any front,” not in Gaza, not in Iran, not in Lebanon.

Not in Lebanon, nor... with the Houthis, nor on any front.

And he wants to keep these wars going to get closer to the idea of absolute victory. But...

The election is in 48 hours, and he is without an outright victory, as all the leaders of the opposition and the Israeli media accuse him of.

There is rhetoric and talk that is serious when it comes to Turkey and hostility toward Turkey.

Dr. Ahmad, from the inside, how do you see Israel's view of Turkey and the idea that it is the next enemy, the next war, the next threat, and so on?

Israel needs a rotating enemy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You know it. If it's not Plan A, they always have to create a Plan B. So a few months ago President Erdoğan and Turkey were the rotating enemy.

Statements of attack and veiled military threats and perhaps attempts to provoke clashes on Syrian territory.

The airport they bombed was a message to Turkey.

That was a message to Turkey, and they said it was a message to Turkey.

They said it was a message to Turkey. So Netanyahu can't now— he's at a stage where he can't live without an enemy and a war.