Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working through US mediators to win Saudi Arabia's permission for Israeli strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, a diplomatic source told Haaretz on Monday. Under the plan, Israel would join the Saudis in the decade-old conflict and use that cooperation to build toward a future normalization agreement.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been reluctant to allow Israeli intervention in the war. He also serves as the kingdom's prime minister, so Israel is unlikely to receive permission to join the fight without his approval.
Netanyahu has repeatedly declared normalization with Saudi Arabia a goal. In recent election campaign statements, he has pledged to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
