Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid today (Thursday) addressed the reports of Israel's agreement to allow uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia as part of a normalization agreement, and clarified that this is a dangerous move for Israel.
"A normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia is a welcome thing - but not at the cost of allowing the Saudis to develop nuclear weapons," said Lapid. "Not at the price of a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East."
According to him, "The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia already spoke yesterday about the possibility of Saudi Arabia having nuclear weapons. All his life Netanyahu has fought exactly against such moves. These are the foundations of our nuclear strategy."
"Strong democracies do not sacrifice their security interests for the sake of politics," concluded Lapid. "It is dangerous and irresponsible. Israel must not agree to any type of uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia."
As mentioned, this morning it was reported in the "Wall Street Journal" that Prime Minister Netanyahu is positively considering allowing the Saudi demand for a civilian nuclear program as part of the normalization efforts between the countries. According to the report, Netanyahu ordered his advisers and Israeli officials to work in cooperation with the Americans on finding a formula that would allow a civilian Saudi nuclear program.
The nuclear program is part of the package of Saudi demands to the Americans, in addition to a defense alliance and Israeli gestures to the Palestinians, according to the reports the nuclear program will operate in a civilian format but will allow uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, under American supervision and leadership, according to the reports, similar to the demand for a defense alliance, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a civilian nuclear program as necessary for the future of Saudi Arabia.
The reports also come against the background of an extensive interview that Mohammed bin Salaman gave to the American media yesterday after more than 4 years in which he was not interviewed, during the interview the Crown Prince explained that Israel and Saudi Arabia are getting closer and closer to normalization and full relations every day and when asked about the nuclear program he explained that it is aimed for civilian goals only, and that they will strive to obtain an atomic bomb only if Iran also obtains one.
