Trump says Gulf deals are ‘good for Israel’

On Tuesday, the White House announced a $142 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US President Donald Trump says the deals he is making with Gulf states during his Mideast trip are “good for Israel.”

Rumors before Trump’s trip that relations between the US and Israel were cooling and the absence of Israel from the president’s itinerary may have prompted reassurances.

“This is good for Israel,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

“Having a relationship like I have with these countries… I think it’s very good for Israel,” he said.

On Tuesday, the White House announced a $142 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia as part of an agreement that the Saudis would invest $600 billion in US companies.

Trump told Saudi Arabian officials that they ought to recognize Israel formally, and by doing so, “you’ll be greatly honoring me.”

“It’s been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords. It’s my fervent hope, wish and even my dream, that Saudi Arabia, a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time—what you’ve been able to do,” Trump said in a speech in Riyadh on Tuesday, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looking on.

“But we’ll soon be joining the Abraham Accords. I think it will be a tremendous tribute to your country and something that’s going to be very important for the future of the Middle East,” the president said. “I took a risk in doing them. They’ve been an absolute bonanza for the countries that joined.”

Trump added that the Biden administration “did nothing for four years.”

“We would have had it filled out, but it will be a special day in the Middle East, with the whole world watching, when Saudi Arabia joins us,” he said.

“You’ll be greatly honoring all of those people who have fought so hard for the Middle East, and I really think it’s going to be something special.”