本周末,以色列局勢的升級將對其外交政策以及整個中東局勢帶來重要影響。以色列政府此前一直在積極探討與沙特建立外交關(guān)系的正?;R陨泻蜕程鼐鶠槊绹挠H密盟友。作為中東地區(qū)的兩大強(qiáng)國,幾十年來兩國之間的關(guān)系一直相當(dāng)疏遠(yuǎn),甚至曾達(dá)到敵對的程度。若兩國能夠達(dá)成協(xié)議,將成為一項具有重要歷史意義的成就。
然而,地緣政治咨詢公司歐亞集團(tuán)(Eurasia Group)總裁兼創(chuàng)始人伊恩·布雷默表示,在哈馬斯最近對以色列發(fā)動恐怖襲擊、以色列隨之宣戰(zhàn)以后,這份協(xié)議“現(xiàn)在已被擱置”。
布雷默將哈馬斯發(fā)動的襲擊形容為“以色列的9/11”,因為哈馬斯突然襲擊并以平民為目標(biāo)。他指出,這也是“首次深入以色列境內(nèi)發(fā)起的攻擊”。在周一的一份分析報告中,布雷默寫道,由于前所未有的國家安全危機(jī),以色列和沙特將不得不重新審視局勢,這將“導(dǎo)致巴勒斯坦在外交上更加孤立”。
自戰(zhàn)爭爆發(fā)以來,以色列或沙特均未就談判情況發(fā)表任何官方聲明。美國作為中間人促成了兩國的談判。
周六,哈馬斯武裝人員進(jìn)入以色列境內(nèi)屠殺平民并抓捕人質(zhì)。沙特在當(dāng)天發(fā)布了一份聲明,呼吁阻止事態(tài)升級,并批評了以色列的政策。沙特外交部在X(原Twitter)上發(fā)帖稱:“沙特王國已經(jīng)多次警告,由于持續(xù)占領(lǐng),局勢存在進(jìn)一步惡化的危險?!?/p>
這份聲明未表達(dá)對以色列的支持,因此受到美國外交政策官員的批評。據(jù)《紐約時報》報道,美國參議員林賽·格雷厄姆曾向一位沙特高官表示:“如果沙特希望與美國維持正常的關(guān)系,那么這并不是一份正常的聲明?!眻蟮婪Q,格雷厄姆還警告沙特不要為哈馬斯和伊朗在黎巴嫩的代理組織真主黨“歡呼”。真主黨被美國和沙特認(rèn)定為恐怖組織。
普林斯頓大學(xué)(Princeton University)中東研究教授、全球知名沙特專家伯納德·??藸栒J(rèn)為,這份聲明可能有不同目標(biāo)受眾。他對《財富》雜志表示:“沙特的聲明是為了挽回阿拉伯和伊斯蘭世界的面子,因為在這些地區(qū),巴勒斯坦問題依舊重要?!?/p>
在特朗普執(zhí)政時期,美國幫助促成了《亞伯拉罕協(xié)議》(Abraham Accords),在以色列與巴林和阿聯(lián)酋等海灣國家之間建立了外交關(guān)系。以色列后來與摩洛哥和蘇丹等穆斯林國家也簽署了協(xié)議。盡管這些消息被大肆宣傳,其中包括之前敵視以色列的阿拉伯國家,但中東的阿拉伯公民對這些協(xié)議卻缺乏熱情?!秮啿眳f(xié)議》簽署近一年后,《華盛頓郵報》將它們稱為中東地區(qū)地緣政治“事后的想法”。
布雷默表示,最近的事態(tài)升級將使以色列和沙特難以繼續(xù)達(dá)成一項協(xié)議。布雷默在同一份報告中寫道:“雖然沙特外交部譴責(zé)了這次襲擊,但同時指出由于以色列歷史上對待巴勒斯坦人的方式,以色列應(yīng)對襲擊負(fù)有一定責(zé)任(這一觀點得到了多個國家政府的認(rèn)同),這將導(dǎo)致兩國之間不太可能建立公開的外交關(guān)系?!?/p>
《紐約時報》報道稱,到目前為止,沙特仍在觀望哈馬斯與以色列之間戰(zhàn)爭的走向,以確定是否恢復(fù)談判。沙特可能在等待是否會有大批巴勒斯坦人死亡,這可能會讓阿拉伯世界的公共輿論轉(zhuǎn)向譴責(zé)以色列。
海克爾說道:“如果以色列的報復(fù)導(dǎo)致數(shù)萬巴勒斯坦人死亡,沙特將很難為與以色列和平相處給出合理理由。”
阻止沙特與以色列之間的協(xié)議,可能是哈馬斯周六突然發(fā)起襲擊的原因之一。??藸栒f道:“現(xiàn)在下結(jié)論仍為時尚早,但哈馬斯/伊朗之所以發(fā)起攻擊,部分原因是阻撓外交正?;M(jìn)程?!币晾屎蜕程匾恢笔侵袞|地區(qū)的地緣政治對手。沙特決定與以色列關(guān)系正?;?,可能使伊朗對其在當(dāng)?shù)厮缪莸慕巧兊锰貏e不安?!度A爾街日報》報道引用哈馬斯和真主黨高官的話稱,伊朗伊斯蘭革命衛(wèi)隊批準(zhǔn)了此次攻擊。美國國務(wù)卿安東尼·布林肯此前曾表示,美國“尚未看到”證明伊朗參與的任何情報。
布雷默表示,沙特目前正在與美國就一項防御性條約進(jìn)行談判,這一談判可能會受到影響,進(jìn)一步增加沙特外交政策的不確定性。他指出,加沙地帶的戰(zhàn)爭事件“使美國更難在短期內(nèi)支持改善與沙特的關(guān)系,包括民用核協(xié)議和盟友關(guān)系的加強(qiáng)等,因為在當(dāng)前情況下,這樣做將面臨國會的強(qiáng)烈譴責(zé)?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
本周末,以色列局勢的升級將對其外交政策以及整個中東局勢帶來重要影響。以色列政府此前一直在積極探討與沙特建立外交關(guān)系的正常化。以色列和沙特均為美國的親密盟友。作為中東地區(qū)的兩大強(qiáng)國,幾十年來兩國之間的關(guān)系一直相當(dāng)疏遠(yuǎn),甚至曾達(dá)到敵對的程度。若兩國能夠達(dá)成協(xié)議,將成為一項具有重要歷史意義的成就。
然而,地緣政治咨詢公司歐亞集團(tuán)(Eurasia Group)總裁兼創(chuàng)始人伊恩·布雷默表示,在哈馬斯最近對以色列發(fā)動恐怖襲擊、以色列隨之宣戰(zhàn)以后,這份協(xié)議“現(xiàn)在已被擱置”。
布雷默將哈馬斯發(fā)動的襲擊形容為“以色列的9/11”,因為哈馬斯突然襲擊并以平民為目標(biāo)。他指出,這也是“首次深入以色列境內(nèi)發(fā)起的攻擊”。在周一的一份分析報告中,布雷默寫道,由于前所未有的國家安全危機(jī),以色列和沙特將不得不重新審視局勢,這將“導(dǎo)致巴勒斯坦在外交上更加孤立”。
自戰(zhàn)爭爆發(fā)以來,以色列或沙特均未就談判情況發(fā)表任何官方聲明。美國作為中間人促成了兩國的談判。
周六,哈馬斯武裝人員進(jìn)入以色列境內(nèi)屠殺平民并抓捕人質(zhì)。沙特在當(dāng)天發(fā)布了一份聲明,呼吁阻止事態(tài)升級,并批評了以色列的政策。沙特外交部在X(原Twitter)上發(fā)帖稱:“沙特王國已經(jīng)多次警告,由于持續(xù)占領(lǐng),局勢存在進(jìn)一步惡化的危險。”
這份聲明未表達(dá)對以色列的支持,因此受到美國外交政策官員的批評。據(jù)《紐約時報》報道,美國參議員林賽·格雷厄姆曾向一位沙特高官表示:“如果沙特希望與美國維持正常的關(guān)系,那么這并不是一份正常的聲明。”報道稱,格雷厄姆還警告沙特不要為哈馬斯和伊朗在黎巴嫩的代理組織真主黨“歡呼”。真主黨被美國和沙特認(rèn)定為恐怖組織。
普林斯頓大學(xué)(Princeton University)中東研究教授、全球知名沙特專家伯納德·??藸栒J(rèn)為,這份聲明可能有不同目標(biāo)受眾。他對《財富》雜志表示:“沙特的聲明是為了挽回阿拉伯和伊斯蘭世界的面子,因為在這些地區(qū),巴勒斯坦問題依舊重要。”
在特朗普執(zhí)政時期,美國幫助促成了《亞伯拉罕協(xié)議》(Abraham Accords),在以色列與巴林和阿聯(lián)酋等海灣國家之間建立了外交關(guān)系。以色列后來與摩洛哥和蘇丹等穆斯林國家也簽署了協(xié)議。盡管這些消息被大肆宣傳,其中包括之前敵視以色列的阿拉伯國家,但中東的阿拉伯公民對這些協(xié)議卻缺乏熱情。《亞伯拉罕協(xié)議》簽署近一年后,《華盛頓郵報》將它們稱為中東地區(qū)地緣政治“事后的想法”。
布雷默表示,最近的事態(tài)升級將使以色列和沙特難以繼續(xù)達(dá)成一項協(xié)議。布雷默在同一份報告中寫道:“雖然沙特外交部譴責(zé)了這次襲擊,但同時指出由于以色列歷史上對待巴勒斯坦人的方式,以色列應(yīng)對襲擊負(fù)有一定責(zé)任(這一觀點得到了多個國家政府的認(rèn)同),這將導(dǎo)致兩國之間不太可能建立公開的外交關(guān)系?!?/p>
《紐約時報》報道稱,到目前為止,沙特仍在觀望哈馬斯與以色列之間戰(zhàn)爭的走向,以確定是否恢復(fù)談判。沙特可能在等待是否會有大批巴勒斯坦人死亡,這可能會讓阿拉伯世界的公共輿論轉(zhuǎn)向譴責(zé)以色列。
海克爾說道:“如果以色列的報復(fù)導(dǎo)致數(shù)萬巴勒斯坦人死亡,沙特將很難為與以色列和平相處給出合理理由。”
阻止沙特與以色列之間的協(xié)議,可能是哈馬斯周六突然發(fā)起襲擊的原因之一。??藸栒f道:“現(xiàn)在下結(jié)論仍為時尚早,但哈馬斯/伊朗之所以發(fā)起攻擊,部分原因是阻撓外交正常化進(jìn)程?!币晾屎蜕程匾恢笔侵袞|地區(qū)的地緣政治對手。沙特決定與以色列關(guān)系正?;?,可能使伊朗對其在當(dāng)?shù)厮缪莸慕巧兊锰貏e不安?!度A爾街日報》報道引用哈馬斯和真主黨高官的話稱,伊朗伊斯蘭革命衛(wèi)隊批準(zhǔn)了此次攻擊。美國國務(wù)卿安東尼·布林肯此前曾表示,美國“尚未看到”證明伊朗參與的任何情報。
布雷默表示,沙特目前正在與美國就一項防御性條約進(jìn)行談判,這一談判可能會受到影響,進(jìn)一步增加沙特外交政策的不確定性。他指出,加沙地帶的戰(zhàn)爭事件“使美國更難在短期內(nèi)支持改善與沙特的關(guān)系,包括民用核協(xié)議和盟友關(guān)系的加強(qiáng)等,因為在當(dāng)前情況下,這樣做將面臨國會的強(qiáng)烈譴責(zé)?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
The escalating events in Israel this weekend will have cascading effects on its foreign policy and, in turn, the entire Middle East. The Israeli government had previously been talking with Saudi Arabia about normalizing diplomatic relations. The deal would have been a historic achievement by two of the region’s major power players, both American allies, after decades of estrangement that bordered on hostility.
However, after Hamas’s recent terrorist attacks and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war, that agreement “is for now off the table,” according to Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the geopolitical consulting firm Eurasia Group.
Bremmer called these attacks “Israel’s 9/11” because they came as a surprise and targeted civilians. They were also “the first attacks deep into Israel,” he said. Because of the unprecedented national security crisis, Israel and Saudi Arabia will be forced to reconsider, and “that would leave the Palestinians diplomatically more isolated than they [have] ever been,” Bremmer wrote in an analyst note on Monday.
Since the start of the war there is no official word from Israel or Saudi Arabia about the status of their talks, which the U.S. is helping to mediate.
Saudi Arabia issued a statement on Saturday, the day Hamas fighters entered Israel, killing civilians and taking others hostage, in which it called for an end to further escalation and blamed Israel’s policies. “The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The statement, which offered little support for Israel, drew criticism from U.S. foreign policy officials. Sen. Lindsey Graham reportedly spoke to a senior Saudi official, telling him, “If you want a normal relationship with the United States, this is not a normal statement,” the New York Times reported. Graham also reportedly admonished Saudi Arabia for being in “the cheering section” for Hamas and Iran’s Lebanese proxy group, Hezbollah, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia both designate a terrorist organization.
There may have been a different intended audience for the statement, according to Bernard Haykel, a professor of Middle East studies at Princeton University and among the world’s leading experts on Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi statement was intended to save face in the Arab and Islamic world in which the Palestinian cause remains important,” he told Fortune.
During the Trump administration, the U.S. helped broker the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic ties between Israel and the Gulf States of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Israel later signed agreements with Muslim countries Morocco and Sudan. Despite being announced with great fanfare, including the Arab countries that had previously been hostile to Israel, Arab citizens across the Middle East were less enthused by the deals. Nearly a year after the Abraham Accords were signed, the Washington Post termed them an “afterthought” in the region’s geopolitics.
Bremmer says the latest escalation would make it unpalatable for Israel and Saudi Arabia to pursue a deal. “The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the attacks but also said Israel was responsible for them, because of their historic treatment of Palestinians (a statement echoed by a number of…governments in the region) that makes opening diplomacy impossible for both countries,” Bremmer wrote in the same note.
So far, Saudi Arabia is waiting to see how the war between Hamas and Israel unfolds before resuming talks, the New York Times reported. Saudi Arabia is likely waiting to see if large numbers of Palestinian civilians die, which might turn public sentiment in the Arab world against Israel.
“If Israel’s retaliation leads to many tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, then Saudi will have a hard time justifying a peace with Israel,” Haykel said.
Efforts to stop that deal could have been an impetus for the surprise attack on Saturday. “It’s too early to tell, but Hamas/Iran did these attacks in part to stymie the normalization process,” Haykel said. Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been geopolitical rivals in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s decision to normalize relations with Israel has likely made Iran especially uneasy about its role in the region. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps signed off on the attack, citing senior sources with Hamas and Hezbollah. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had “not yet seen” intelligence confirming any involvement by Iran.
Saudi Arabia is also in the midst of negotiating a defense treaty with the U.S., which may be imperiled as well, Bremmer adds, casting even further uncertainty on the kingdom’s foreign policy. The war in Gaza “makes it harder for the United States to support near-term improvement of Saudi relations, including the civilian nuclear deal and alliance upgrade, which in this environment would now be soundly condemned by Congress,” he said.