Israel is “closer than ever” to normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, according to Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s new ambassador to the U.S. In an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post, Leiter called the potential agreement a “game changer” for the region.

Leiter linked the diplomatic progress to Israel’s recent military actions against Hamas and other Iranian-backed groups. “We’re closer to Saudi Arabia because we’ve degraded Hamas,” he stated. He also noted that the decline of Hezbollah and the weakening of Iran’s influence have created a unique opportunity for Middle East realignment.

Saudi Arabia, he suggested, shares Israel’s interest in countering extremist groups, particularly those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. “Wherever the Muslim Brotherhood is compromised, moderation can rise,” he said, pointing to shifts in Egypt, Sudan, and Turkey. Riyadh, he argued, sees combating these elements as key to its own modernization efforts.

Leiter, 65, an ordained rabbi and historian, has a PhD in political philosophy and served as a combat medic in the 1982 Lebanon War. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as Israel seeks to strengthen regional alliances amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.

+ posts