Saudi Crown Prince fears assassination due to stance on Israel

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly expressed concerns about potential assassination threats linked to his efforts to forge a peace deal with Israel. The Crown Prince, who has been at the forefront of transformative changes in Saudi Arabia, has privately conveyed to U.S. lawmakers that his life is in jeopardy as he seeks to normalize relations with Israel—a move that has long been fraught with peril in the Middle East.

In discussions with members of Congress, the Saudi Crown Prince compared his situation to that of Anwar Sadat, the former Egyptian president who was assassinated after signing a peace agreement with Israel. According to Politico, he has questioned what steps the U.S. took to protect Sadat, highlighting the serious risks he faces in pursuing a similar path.

The Saudi Crown Prince’s fears are particularly tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has intensified regional tensions, especially after the recent war in Gaza. He has emphasized that any peace deal must include a credible path to a Palestinian state, arguing that neglecting this issue could jeopardize his role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and further destabilize the region.

Despite the dangers, the Saudi Crown Prince appears determined to move forward with the peace process, seeing it as vital to Saudi Arabia’s future. The proposed agreement, which has been under secretive negotiation, could involve Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel in exchange for U.S. security guarantees, support for a civilian nuclear program, and economic investments. However, the deal faces significant challenges, particularly Israel’s reluctance to agree to the creation of a Palestinian state.