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Saudi Arabia spearheads Arab alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan
STORY: Saudi Arabia is spearheading efforts to draw up an Arab vision for Gaza’s future as an alternative to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for a “Middle East Riviera” cleared of Palestinians.Ten sources told Reuters the draft ideas will be discussed at a regional meeting in Riyadh this month. Arab states were aghast at Trump’s plan to resettle Palestinians in Jordan and Egypt, which Cairo and Amman especially saw as deeply destabilizing.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MbS, had warm relations with Trump during the first administration and he’s central to Arab ties in the new Trump era.But the kingdom was angered by the U.S. president’s Gaza idea, which nixes its demand for a clear path to Palestinian statehood in return for normalizing Saudi ties with Israel.The death and destruction from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza fueled Saudi public anger.And in November, the crown prince publicly accused Israel of genocide during an Islamic summit.One Arab government source said an Egyptian proposal was now emerging as frontrunner.It entails forming a national Palestinian committee to govern Gaza without Hamas.Gaza would be rebuilt with international and Gulf money but without displacing Palestinians.There’d also be movement towards a two-state solution – that’s according to three Egyptian security sources.A buffer zone and physical barrier would be erected to stop tunnels being built across Gaza’s border with Egypt. As soon as rubble is removed, temporary living zones would be established. However, the most difficult issues around Gaza’s governance, preventing Hamas playing a role and internal security remain to be decided, an official said.Gulf states, which have historically paid for reconstruction in Gaza, have also said they don’t want to do that again without guarantees that Israel will leave standing what they rebuild.MbS is expanding Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the United States through business and global power politics.Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is holding a conference in Miami this month that Trump is expected to attend.