Saudi crown prince refuses to discuss Jerusalem, touts Israeli ties

As the Saudi administration continues to dodge adopting a firm stance against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman refused to mention Jerusalem during a meeting with an American delegation on the eve of Trump's declaration, according to a report published by Foreign Policy.

U.S. officials had previously stated that Trump was likely to give a speech unilaterally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a step that would break with decades of U.S. policy and fuel violence in the Middle East.

Robert Satloff, who headed a delegation of more than 50 supporters and fellows of the Middle East think tank he directs in a visit to Saudi Arabia, expected to hear the Saudi administration "expressing thunderous outrage at the handing of Jerusalem to the Jews."

Instead, he was surprised that despite many opportunities and the fact that the "impending declaration was well known," the word "Jerusalem" was never uttered during meetings with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and Saudi officials, who were more than eager to discuss Saudi- American and Saudi-Israeli partnerships with the delegation.

President Trump on Dec. 6 formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and initiated a plan to move the U.S.'s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

A positive stance toward Israel

Satloff noted that Saudi-U.S. and Saudi-Israeli ties during the rule of Salman are much warmer than they have ever been in previous administrations.

Satloff also noted that Crown Prince Salman "repeatedly affirmed the strength of the [Saudi-Israeli] security partnership, which he proudly noted was the oldest in the region -- even older than the one between the United States and Israel. And on Israel itself, he struck an unusually positive note."

"[Salman] said nothing about Israeli expansionism, Israeli arrogance, Israeli unfairness, or Israeli encroachment on Muslim rights in Jerusalem. Instead, he spoke of the promising future that awaited Saudi-Israeli relations once peace was reached and, operationally, he committed himself to bringing that about," Satloff continued.

Nuclear cooperation is imminent

As Trump's Jerusalem move goes unopposed by Crown Prince Salman, Saudi Arabia prepares to cooperate with the U.S. in the field of nuclear power.

White House officials informed U.S. congress members that the Gulf kingdom and Trump are set to sign agreements worth billions of dollars to build a nuclear reactor in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with Russian nuclear firm Rosatom to build a Nuclear Energy hub in the Kingdom.