MUST-READS

• Saudi Arabia welcomes Palestinian state recognition by three European countries

  “The Kingdom appreciates this decision issued by these countries, which confirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” the ministry said in the statement. The expected decision by Norway, Ireland and Spain was announced Wednesday morning with the formal recognition being made on May 28, infuriating Israel.

• Saudi Arabia bans imports from 20 automakers

  The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and the Saudi Ports Authority also known as Mawani banned 20 automakers’ products. The decision was made after the automakers failed to submit their supply plan for the current year 2024 within the allotted time. Until these automakers submit their supply plan for 2024—which they can submit no later than the end of this year—Saudi car agents will be temporarily prohibited from importing new light vehicles, weighing no more than 3.5 tons, from these manufacturers.

• Commentary: A fateful road not taken – Netanyahu seems set to spurn Saudi normalization

  As the Biden administration makes clear it is closing in on a wide-ranging agreement with Saudi Arabia, the fear is that this may be a “road not taken” moment for Israel and that a fateful opportunity for normalization with Riyadh will be missed. The Israel-Saudi element of a deal, the US has conveyed to Israel, requires an Israeli commitment — not to a Palestinian state at this stage, but to a credible “pathway” to Palestinian independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently refusing to promise any such thing.

• Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome thousands of gamers for Esports World Cup

  Saudi Arabia is getting set to put its stamp on the global gaming market this summer when it hosts the Esports World Cup over eight weeks in July and August. Boulevard Riyadh City will be the venue for the competition’s debut from July 4 to Aug. 25. More than 2,500 players are expected to compete for a $60 million prize pool, the largest in esports history.

• GACA to rope in 3 global players to operate Saudi airport private lounges by 2030

  The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) aims to have three global companies enter the Saudi aviation market to operate in private lounges by 2030, as outlined in the public aviation roadmap issued at the Future Aviation Conference (FAF) 2024, said Imtiyaz Manzary, Director General (General Aviation) at GACA.

• Recognitions of Palestinian statehood are a rebuke to Israel, if a largely symbolic one.

  Scores of countries have recognized Palestinian statehood, but the closely coordinated announcements by the three nations carried added weight amid the growing toll of the war in Gaza, and because most Western European countries, and the United States, have resisted taking such a step out of solidarity with Israel.

• At Gulf Cooperation Council, U.S. Participates in Maritime, Missile Defense Working Groups

  The U.S. last participated in talks with the GCC in February 2023. During today's discussions, representatives from the Joint Staff, U.S. Central Command, Naval Forces Central Command, Air Forces Central Command, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency are participating in two working groups, including one on maritime security and the other on air and missile defense.

• U.S. Says Historic Israel-Saudi Normalization Deal Within Reach but Israel Might Balk

  “The Saudis have been clear that [normalization] would require calm in Gaza and it would require a credible pathway to a Palestinian state,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday. “It may well be that in this moment Israel isn’t able or willing to proceed down that pathway.”

• Kuwait Faces an Uncertain Future After Legislature is Suspended

  For the past six decades, Kuwait has stood out as among the freest and open Arab states of the Persian Gulf, centered on the country’s 1962 constitution and its vibrant, elected National Assembly. The Assembly’s broad powers, including the ability to interpolate appointed ministers, have enabled the body to serve as a forum for holding the government accountable. Legislative and quasi-legislative consultative assemblies in the other Gulf states were established far more recently and have significantly less scope of authority than Kuwait’s parliament.

• Who Replaces Iran’s President Raisi? It’s the Wrong Question

  The rise of Raisi, an ally of Khamenei, was part of a broader strategy to consolidate power among hardliners and ensure the regime's stability. His election in 2021, amid record-low turnout and allegations of rigging, signaled that the ruling apparatus no longer saw elective offices as necessary pressure valves for a discontented populace. This strategy held even during the intense protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, which saw brutal crackdowns ordered by Raisi. Often called the "Butcher of Tehran," Raisi was known for his harsh crackdowns on dissent and his role in the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988. His death throws a wrench into the hardliners' plans and raises questions about the future leadership of Iran.

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