"The kingdom condemns and regrets the US decision regarding Jerusalem, for the release of the historic rights of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem." The condemnation came from the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdul Azis al Saud a day after United States President Donald Trump submitted a plan to transfer the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
But a number of political analysts and politicians in the Middle East are quietly shouting the Saudi attitude. For them, the condemnation against Trump was nothing more than a mere bite. Arab officials secretly mentioned that Saudi Arabia was in a ship with Trump to work on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The concept of Trump-style reconciliation has just begun.
Four unnamed Palestinian officials named Saudi Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have discussed the offer proposed by President Barack's aide-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
One official said Prince Mohammed asked President Abbas to support the US peace move when meeting in Riyadh, November 2017. This new offer will be revealed in the first half of 2018.
"Patience, you will get good news.The peace process will move forward," said another Palestinian official imitating Prince Mohammed.
The US-Saudi Arabia relationship has recently become more intimate. They have a common interest to confront Iran. In addition Kushner had a personal relationship with Prince Mohammed.
Palestinian officials fear that the closure of East Jerusalem as the future capital of Palestine will separate Palestinian territories from the West Bank without returning refugee rights expelled in the 1948 and 1967 wars. The peace proposal offered by Kushner is precisely this concern.
The proposal includes the Palestinian entity in Gaza as well as the West Bank administration A, B, and 10 percent in area C. The area, said one Palestinian official, contained Jewish settlements.
"Jewish settlements in the West Bank will be maintained, there will be no right to return (for Palestinians), and Israel will retain its power at the border," he explained.
The proposal is slightly different from the existing arrangements in the West Bank. The Palestinian control is wider but far from the minimum demands of their desired national territory.
"This is rejected by the Palestinians, Abu Mazen (the name of President Abbas) explains the position and the danger to the Palestinian interests, and Saudi Arabia understands that," the official said.
Trump attempted to reduce the pressure on Jerusalem's announcement by calling President Abbas the day before. He said the Palestinian official said the Palestinians would benefit from the plans made by Kushner and Middle East envoy A. Jason Greenblatt.
"President Trump in a phone call told Abu Mazen: 'I will have some proposals you want'." When Abu Mazen emphasized the details, Trump did not give it, "continued the Palestinian official.
Sources of Saudi Arabia believe the understanding of Israeli - Palestinian peace will emerge in the coming weeks. As a businessman, Trump should not be underestimated. He always mentions the final deal.
"I do not think our government will accept unless there is a sweet promise in the pipeline that the King can sell to Arabia - that the Palestinians will have their own country," said the Arab source.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not provide a response by Reuters. White House officials said Kushner did not ask the Saudi Crown Prince to speak to Abbas about their peace plan. The official also denied that Kushner communicated the details to Prince Mohammed. "It does not accurately reflect part of the conversation."
This Trump Policy has a uniform reaction from the Arab countries. Jordan is one of the countries that has a key role to success. But they do not want to sign an agreement without Jerusalem.
Political Analyst Oraib Rantawi claimed to have met with King Abdullah after a royal meeting with the United States. He declared Amman, the Jordanian capital, concerned that Saudi Arabia had missed them.
"There is a direct relationship and a desire to convey unfair agreements to the Palestinians in return for securing US support and paving the way for Gulf-Israeli cooperation to confront Iran," he said.
