Saudi-Israeli Normalization

Offering the first in-depth exploration of Saudi Arabiaâs political, social, and diplomatic role in the Sixâ'Day War, this study sheds light on the kingdomâs overlooked but pivotal contributions to one of the most consequential conflicts in modern Middle Eastern history. Drawing on both newly available material and a fresh analytical approach, it also highlights how the war influenced Saudi Arabiaâs evolving identity and regional positioning.

Far from being a peripheral actor, Saudi Arabia played a crucial role in shaping Arab responses to Israel during and after the 1967 warâ"from economic warfare via the oil embargo to internal shifts in leadership, ideology, and governance. Drawing on archival material and extensive analysis, this book situates Saudi Arabiaâs wartime decisions within the broader framework of its internal transformations and evolving regional ambitions. Through a close examination of King Faisalâs leadership, domestic tensions, oil diplomacy, and the kingdomâs strategic recalibration, this study reveals how the Sixâ'Day War became a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabiaâs emergence as a regional power. It shows how the conflict reshaped Saudiâ"Israeli dynamics and laid the foundation for the kingdomâs complexâ"and at times contradictoryâ"approach to Israel in the decades that followed.

Essential reading for scholars and students of Middle East politics, Gulf studies, and international relations, this book also appeals to anyone seeking to understand the historical roots of todayâs Saudiâ"Israeli engagement. It offers fresh insights into the intersection of domestic upheaval and regional diplomacy.