The United States is facing difficulties in a covert plan for the Middle East as Saudi Arabia's King Salman (pictured) regained control over foreign policy, the Wall Street Journal wrote on Tuesday. The monarch has apparently sidelined the initiative to warm up to Israel which was directed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before the backlash for the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi in October, according to people familiar with the matter.
The insiders claimed the controversial heir, who has been accused by politicians from the US and Europe for the assassination, decided to refrain from radical moves like strengthening ties with Israel, formally an enemy. Saud al-Qahtani, his advisor who was dismissed after the killing and Turkey demanded his extradition, was reportedly in charge of a propaganda push to make Israel look better while cracking down on the opposition. He is also said to have inked a $55 million purchase of surveillance technology from Herzliya-based NSO Group, which it denied.
However, the kingdom apparently hasn't scrapped the initiative to invest "at least $100 million" in the Israeli tech sector.
