(JNS) Two prominent American senators from across the political aisle on Tuesday, Oct. 8 urged Saudi Arabia to reach a landmark peace accord with Israel by the end of the year as part of a regional settlement that will also include a push towards a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The diplomatic efforts by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) come as the war against Hamas in Gaza reached the one-year mark, and follow a series of Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are Iranian proxies.
In a sign of the bipartisan nature of the trip, the Republican senator said that he would tell the Saudi leader that a defense treaty with the United States can be attained under President Joe Biden’s tenure, since it will likely be harder to reach under a future administration.
“It really is a magnificent potential achievement with enduring effect to match the successes of the battlefield with diplomatic successes,” said Blumenthal. “I hope that diplomacy may achieve a cessation of fighting, leading to the return of the hostages, and a push toward normalizing relations in the region, along with humanitarian aid and rebuilding.”
With an Israeli military response to last week’s Iranian missile attack expected soon, the senators were looking to leverage Israel’s successes on the battlefields of Gaza and Lebanon as an opportunity to bring about a regional settlement, spearheaded by peace with Saudi Arabia.
“The best way to make peace in this region is to cripple and weaken Iran,” Graham said.
Both senators said they would urge Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf countries to join forces in a regional push for stability with the Palestinians, even if it stops short of the two-state solution.
“The two-state solution died on Oct. 7,” Graham said. “The Israeli public will not accept a Palestinian state as a result of this barbaric terrorist attack, because it’s rewarding terrorism. But you are not going to have peace until you deal with the Palestinians.”
Blumenthal conceded that the two-state solution he has long supported is currently off the table.
Graham, who was on his seventh trip to Israel since last year’s Hamas massacre, pledged to have Israel’s back as long as he lives.
