Saudi Prince Salman’s fear of assassination for Israel: Is covert blackmail involved?

To understand the background of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's assassination fears, we need to examine the U.S. presidential election held on November 3, 2020, and the significant developments that occurred around February 7, 2020, when state-level election traffic began. During this period, U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the so-called "Deal of the Century" at a White House press conference, aiming to end nearly a century of tension between Israel and Palestine. This plan was not a true agreement for two main reasons: Firstly, it was presented without even consulting Palestine, and secondly, it was essentially an annexation plan designed to use U.S. hegemonic power to seize Palestinian territories for Israel. Moreover, some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, which are seen as puppets of imperialism, gave unconditional support to this plan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted strongly, stating, "Jerusalem is a holy place for Muslims. The plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is unacceptable. This plan will not contribute to peace or solutions. It is an attempt to create new faits accomplis for Palestine and Jerusalem. It is a plan to disregard Palestinian rights and legitimize Israel's occupation."

The "Deal of the Century" plan, prepared by Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, was handed over to Trump and Netanyahu. Trump, known for his willingness to do anything to win re-election, incorporated the "preemptive assassination" doctrine—a version of the "targeted killing" strategy used by NATO countries against perceived enemies—into his campaign strategy. This doctrine had already been applied in the form of assassinations of figures like Osama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It was then used against Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force.

We have previously written that Kushner visited Prince Mohammed bin Salman twice in Riyadh on different dates. During the first visit, a list of 50 princes prepared by the CIA was discussed, while the second visit involved a death list including Jamal Khashoggi and Qasem Soleimani, also prepared by the CIA.

The assassination list, prepared jointly by the CIA, Mossad, and Saudi intelligence, was reportedly handed to Netanyahu in the Eastern Mediterranean and to Prince Salman himself.

CIA evidence suggests that the list was prepared in cooperation with Mossad and GIP. It appears that the individuals on the list, including Khashoggi, were monitored using the Pegasus virus program, which was developed and marketed by an American company. This list also includes significant leaders who oppose or may oppose the "Deal of the Century." Additionally, Biden and Netanyahu have assigned the task of adapting Arab League leaders to the "Deal of the Century" or normalization plans to Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Despite Prince Salman’s hints that he fears assassination due to the normalization of relations with Israel and Arab League countries, it’s unclear whether this fear stems from covert blackmail by the U.S. or Israel.

According to U.S. media, Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed to American Congress members that, "The 'Deal of the Century' and normalization efforts between Israel and Arab League countries put my life at risk." He worries about being targeted for assassination if he normalizes relations with Israel, recalling the assassination of Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat in 1981 and questioning whether the U.S. took measures to protect Sadat.

The Saudi crown prince highlighted the anger Arabs feel toward Israel following the Gaza genocide, which resulted in the deaths of 40,000 innocent people. He emphasized the need to establish a concrete timeline for the creation of a Palestinian state and actions towards it, stating, "This is important for the Saudi people and all people in the Middle East. If I disregard the region's biggest problem, my reputation as the guardian of the holy lands will be tarnished."

A high-level Saudi official, speaking anonymously to Politico, emphasized that Saudi Arabia will not fully benefit from economic, technological, and military gains without resolving the Palestinian issue. The official stressed that security and stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved without solving the Palestinian problem. Recent tensions with President Biden over oil and the potential for covert assassination or blackmail from the U.S. indicate that Salman is also seeking security guarantees from the U.S.