When pressed on how Tel Aviv rationalizes the kingdom’s normalization of ties with
– a country Israel attacks on a near-weekly basis – and their warm welcome of
leaders, Netanyahu alleged Saudi authorities were likely telling them “to prepare themselves [for normalization with Israel] — maybe to try to tell them to stop doing the kind of terror they foment.”
He later denied awareness of any Chinese initiative to mediate a solution to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, saying, “I’m not aware of any specific offer of this kind … Look, we respect China, we deal with China a great deal. But we also know we have an indispensable alliance with our great friend, the United States.”