Israel must not agree to Saudi uranium enrichment: Opposition leader

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says the regime can under no circumstances agree to a uranium enrichment program by Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh’s enrichment activities may spark “a nuclear arms race” in the region.

The former Israeli prime minister’s remarks came on Sunday, amid reports of a potential US-brokered normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia that enables the latter to develop a nuclear program.

“The problem with this normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia is that it will allow uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, and Israel cannot agree to that under any circumstances,” he said.

“The US administration knows this matter; because it will lead to a nuclear arms race in [West Asia] … it is a threat to lives and must not be approved.”

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported an agreement on the general outline of an Israeli-Saudi normalization pact.

Under the deal, Riyadh would secure American backing for a civilian nuclear program, as well as access to advanced weapons. In exchange, the kingdom would take major steps to distance itself from China and Israel would allow an independent Palestinian state.

On Thursday, Lapid told US Democratic Party lawmakers visiting the occupied territories that he opposes any agreement that allows Riyadh to enrich uranium.

“The deal at the moment endangers Israel’s security and the region. It is forbidden to give Saudi Arabia any level of uranium enrichment,” he said.

US plays down speculation over possible deal on Saudi-Israel normalization

The US says no agreement has been reached yet to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, adding that more discussions are needed before any such deal happens.

Lapid made similar remarks publicly in an interview with Channel 12 news in the same day.

“I have no problem with a civilian nuclear program. There are Middle Eastern countries that have civilian nuclear programs. What they don’t have is uranium enrichment on their soil. This is what is on the table now and it cannot be allowed to be on the table. Israel can’t agree to uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, because it endangers Israel’s security,” he explained.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party advised Lapid “not to preach” to the premier about security.

However, Lapid is not the only Israeli official to reject this new plan for a normalization deal between Riyadh and Tel Aviv. Israel’s Kan radio reported on Wednesday that “senior officials in Israel are divided on this issue.”

“The main demand that the Saudis put forward to the United States on the road to normalization is related to the issue of civilian nuclear energy … this step will lead to a regional nuclear arms race in the Arab countries,” it said.

In June, Israeli energy minister Israel Katz also opposed the idea, saying that Israel “does not encourage” such a program and should not agree to it.

Israeli officials’ objection to a nuclear Saudi Arabia comes as Israel is believed to be the sole possessor of non-conventional arms in West Asia with an estimated 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

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