Enemies by History, Partners by Necessity: Can Saudi Arabia and Israel Converge?

Driven by escalating Houthi threats and allied military restraint, Saudi Arabia and Israel might be inching towards a pragmatic “marriage of convenience” to safeguard their mutual survival. However, deep-seated public hostility and the unresolved Palestine issue will likely keep this strategic convergence tightly under wraps as an implicit, tactical arrangement rather than formal normalisation.

The Paradox of Strategic Convergence

Saudi Arabia and Israel are currently facing such a situation. Any overt Saudi-Israeli security partnership would create significant political ripples across the Muslim world, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s role as the custodians of the Holy Mosques, the continued centrality of the Palestinian genocide, and Israel’s obvious stance against major Muslim countries (and Saudi allies) including Pakistan and Turkey.

Houthis from Yemen have escalated their campaign against the Saudis, leaving the Kingdom in the lurch. During these dire circumstances, where the Kingdom is under attack, Israeli PM Netanyahu has allegedly offered military and intelligence assistance to the Kingdom. Although the Saudi authorities have apparently denied such assistance, would the ever-increasing Houthi attacks and the seeming ineffectiveness of the Mecca Defence Pact create a situation of a drowning man catching a straw for the Saudis?

Levels of Cooperation

Before critically assessing any prospects, one should understand the possible nature of cooperation between two historical rivals in the event of a shared threat assessment. There can be three levels of cooperation, which are given below, but remember that these levels are just analytical categories, not an inevitable sequence.

A. Implicit/Covert Cooperation

When states act in pursuit of common interests without making any public statement, it is referred to as implicit/covert cooperation. It could be done through secret exchange of information, use of intermediary channels of communication, or even through secret security arrangements.

B. Open/Limited Cooperation

This involves the existence of mutual interests among the states or cooperation without the creation of diplomatic relationships between them. This may be done via mediation by other parties.

C. Formal Normalization

This involves the establishment of diplomatic relationships between states based on some formal understanding between them. This may involve the exchange of ambassadors or even the signing of strategic........

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