Saudi Prince: Israel Is the Major Threat to the Middle East, Not Iran

According to Rokna, citing Sky News Arabia, he stated during the Middle East and Africa summit at the Milken Institute—moderated by Hadley Gamble, IMI’s senior international host—that Israel is “undoubtedly the source of problems” and that the United States must restrain it.

He said Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria demonstrate that Tel Aviv “feels emboldened.”

Al-Faisal added: “Israel, with its near-daily bombardment of Syria, its ongoing attacks on Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank, and also in Lebanon—which is assumed to be under a ceasefire—is not a messenger of peace in our region.”

He described Israel’s action in attacking Hamas officials in Doha while ceasefire proposals for Gaza were under review as “a warning signal,” adding that this indicates the Gulf Cooperation Council must unite to defend itself.

In response to a question regarding whether Saudi Arabia should consider developing its own nuclear capability, he said this is an option Riyadh “must seriously consider.”

Al-Faisal said: “A few years ago we heard from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would pursue one as well. Developments over the past year, including the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, may have—if one can put it this way—delayed Iran’s ability to obtain nuclear weapons.”

He stressed that regional instability requires a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of nuclear weapons.

The former Saudi intelligence chief added that there is one nuclear-armed state in the region, and that is Israel; yet no one speaks about it. He said: “Therefore, I believe this should prompt us to remain vigilant and cautious as we work toward the desired goal of a region free of weapons of mass destruction.”

In response to a question about whether the Middle East has moved beyond the stage of threats posed by terrorist groups, he expressed pessimism, saying: “In my view, the issue of terrorism—and the thinking of ‘us versus them’—will always exist, as it has throughout history.”

The Saudi security official added that this problem is not confined to any particular geographic region or a single deviation in religious interpretation, and that no single characteristic defines it.

Al-Faisal concluded by warning that the Palestinian issue and the world’s failure to confront Israel’s actions could sow the seeds for the emergence of new extremist movements.