CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 2 )
Moreover , Gawdat Bahgat notes that even Israel , which was always concerned about the close relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States in regard to the latter ’ s supply of armaments to the Kingdom , did not consider Saudi Arabia as its number one enemy . Meanwhile , Iran ranked higher on the Israeli list of enemies in the 2000s . 35 In addition to Bahgat , David Houska notes that Israelis were convinced that their number one enemy at that time was Iran rather than Saudi Arabia , and they were much less concerned about the U . S . supply of weapons to the Saudis in 2007 . 36 Furthermore , Houska also mentions Likud Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ’ s position . Notably , he told the Israeli Cabinet , “ We understand the need of the United States to support the Arab moderate states , and there is a need for a united front between the U . S . and us regarding Iran .” 37
Similarly , Michael Sugrue indicates that the Israelis understand the need of the U . S . to support Saudi Arabia as long as it does not harm Israel ’ s security interests . 38 Moreover , the U . S . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned in her book another manifestation of Israel ’ s pragmatic approach towards Saudi Arabia , taking into consideration the real threat to their political interests in the Middle East coming from Iran . Notably , she noted that in May 2009 , Israel ’ s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his willingness to revive the peace process with King Abdallah . 39
Discussing two schools of thought in Israel that have varying interpretations of the Iranian nuclear threat , Reuven Pedatzur has cited Shimon Peres ’ s statement , “ We ought to put constant and determined efforts to settle our affairs … because Iran is a greater danger for the Arabs and the Israelis ”. 40 Notably , Pedatzur reasons that if Iran continues developing its nuclear program , it is highly possible that a Middle Eastern model of MAD ( mutually assured destruction ) will be implemented in the region , meaning more cooperation between Israel and Middle Eastern
35 Gawdat Bahgat ,“ Nuclear Proliferation : The Case of Saudi Arabia ,” Middle East Journal 60 , no . 3 , ( 2006 ): 421-443 . 36 David Houska , “ U . S . Plans Major Middle East Arms Sales ,” Arms Control Today 37 ,
no . 7 , ( September 2007 ).
37
Ibid ., 38 .
38
Michael Sugrue , “ Saudi Deal Moves Forward ,” Arms Control Today 40 , no . 10 , ( 2010 ).
39
Hillary R . Clinton , Hard Choices , ( New York : Simon & Schuster , 2014 ). 40 Reuven Pedatzur , “ The Iranian Nuclear Threat and the Israeli Options ,” Contemporary
Security Policy 28 , no . 3 ( 2007 ): 516 . 12