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Saudi Arabia Unleashes Scathing Media Assault on Benjamin Netanyahu

Saudi Arabia has unleashed an unprecedented state media campaign against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling mounting frustration within the Gulf state’s royal court over his leadership and Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The scathing criticism, which could only have been published with official approval, highlights the kingdom’s growing impatience with Netanyahu and its insistence on a Palestinian state as a precondition for normalizing relations with Israel.

The media onslaught was triggered by Netanyahu’s recent remarks during an interview, where he joked about establishing a Palestinian state within Saudi Arabia. The comments, perceived as dismissive and offensive, have further strained already tense relations between the two nations.

Netanyahu’s Remarks Spark Outrage
During an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu corrected a presenter who mistakenly referred to the establishment of a “Saudi state” instead of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu quipped, “Unless you want the Palestinian state to be in Saudi Arabia. They have a lot of territory.”

The remarks were met with fierce backlash from Saudi state media, which launched a coordinated attack on the Israeli leader. Al Ekhbariya, a state news channel, described Netanyahu as a “Zionist and the son of a Zionist… who inherited extremism in his genes.” The report added, “Occupation does not have a good face or an ugly face. It has only one face, and it is Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya aired a talk show questioning Netanyahu’s mental state, with the anchor asking, “Maybe it was a case of hallucination?” Meanwhile, a columnist for the Okaz daily dismissed Netanyahu’s comments as “silly and ridiculous,” while pro-government social media users labeled him the “rotten one,” a play on his name in Arabic.

Saudi Arabia’s Hardened Stance on Normalization
The media campaign reflects broader Saudi frustration with Netanyahu and his government’s approach to the Palestinian issue. Riyadh has repeatedly stated that any normalization of relations with Israel would depend on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This position has been reinforced since the outbreak of the Gaza war, which has drawn widespread condemnation across the Arab world.

Before Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Saudi Arabia was reportedly close to a three-way deal with the Biden administration that would have included normalization with Israel, a U.S. defense pact, and assistance with a civilian nuclear program. However, the war in Gaza disrupted these plans, prompting Riyadh to harden its stance.

In September, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the Shura Council that Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as its capital.

Netanyahu’s Missteps and Saudi Pushback
Saudi officials have privately expressed exasperation over what they view as Netanyahu’s offensive and presumptive comments. The Israeli prime minister has suggested that Saudi Arabia would accept displaced Palestinians and agree to normalization under weaker conditions than those publicly stated by Riyadh.

Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi analyst and director of research at ORF Middle East, criticized Netanyahu’s approach, stating, “There is a complete disregard for the statements that Saudi officials make… It’s certainly an outrage.” He added that Riyadh is using the media campaign to “give Netanyahu a taste of his own medicine.”

Netanyahu has claimed that Saudi Arabia would follow the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco in normalizing relations with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords. However, these agreements have delivered little for the Palestinians, further complicating Riyadh’s position.

Trump’s Role and Regional Tensions
The Saudi leadership is also grappling with the fallout from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial statements. Trump, who has expressed a desire to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia, recently suggested that Gaza should be emptied of Palestinians and that the U.S. should take control of the strip.

These remarks shocked Arab states and prompted Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to postpone a scheduled trip to Washington. The kingdom issued a strongly worded statement rejecting Trump’s proposal, emphasizing that “achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights.”

Ali Shihabi, a Saudi commentator close to the royal court, noted that Trump’s approach has derailed progress toward a two-state solution. “People were expecting that Trump would come along and we would advance along a two-state track, but Trump has taken it in a completely different direction,” he said.

Public Anger and Regional Implications
The Saudi leadership is acutely aware of the growing public anger over the Gaza war, particularly among younger Arabs. Elham Fakhro, a research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, noted that Saudi officials are “accounting for the growing public anger among younger Saudis but also among a younger Muslim population, globally.”

This sentiment has pushed Riyadh to double down on its support for Palestinian statehood. As the war in Gaza continues to fuel regional tensions, Saudi Arabia’s media campaign against Netanyahu underscores its determination to assert its position and resist pressure to normalize relations with Israel on unfavorable terms.

A Defining Moment for Saudi-Israel Relations
The escalating rhetoric between Saudi Arabia and Israel marks a defining moment in their complex relationship. While Riyadh has not entirely ruled out normalization, its insistence on a Palestinian state and its fierce pushback against Netanyahu’s remarks highlight the challenges ahead.

As the region navigates this volatile period, the Saudi leadership’s actions suggest a strategic recalibration aimed at preserving its credibility and addressing the aspirations of its people. The coming months will reveal whether these tensions can be resolved or if they will further complicate the path to peace in the Middle East.

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