In a December 17, 2024 article in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, senior Saudi diplomat Hassan Yassin, who serves as an advisor to King Salman bin Abdulaziz, explained that the changes currently unfolding in the Middle East, including the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime in Syria, have sparked many hopes and create an opportunity to advance peace in the region after many years of chaos, including peace with Israel. He noted that the Arab world has already extended its hand to Israel through the Saudi peace initiative of 2002 and later through the signing of the Abraham Accords. Now, he said, it is time for Israel to abandon the path of violence and force and "become a partner in peace, prosperity and stability for the future of our shared region."
It should be noted that Yassin has been close to many Saudi kings and senior officials. He founded the Saudi Information Office in the U.S. and headed it from 1972 to 1981, and worked alongside Saudi ministers of finance and oil. His father Yousuf Yassin was a senior Saudi statesman who was an advisor and close associate of the founder of the Saudi kingdom, King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
Left: Hassan Yassin with Saudi King Salman; right: Yassin with Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (Source: Youtube.com/@HewarMofeed)
The following are translated excerpts from Hassan Yassin's article:[1]
"...These days, there is a sense that a quiet but certain change is spreading throughout the Arab world. After suffering under the rule of the Assad family for more than 50 years, the Syrians have recently taken back control of their future. In other Arab countries, leaders have chosen to trust their people and provide them with the tools and opportunities to build a brighter and more promising future for themselves and their countries...
"The Arab world has experienced long periods of unrest and suffering, and some of its leaders were responsible for mistakes. But today, security and enthusiasm are driving the Arab world and its people forward. In Syria, the open wound is being cleansed. In Palestine, the pain and suffering have lasted almost a hundred [years] and are [still] awaiting a solution. However, there is no doubt that the Palestinian people, who have suffered for so long, will overcome the iron fist of Israeli occupation.
"Israel is treading a path filled with danger. It relies solely on its military and its weapons, and the concern is that it will oppress not only the Palestinians but also its neighbors, such as Lebanon and Syria. However, no mountain of difficulty and despair will stand in the way of the profound historical change that is steering the moral world towards justice.
"Those who believe they have power and attempt to impose it [on others] through fear will soon discover that power does not last forever. Their future lies in extending a peaceful hand and establishing respect and trust with others. Those who believe that everyone is their enemy will find that their greatest enemy is themselves.
"In the West, especially in the U.S., public opinion has shifted and distanced itself from the violent Israeli occupation and its endless wars. In light of the changes in the Arab world and the Middle East, Israel cannot miss this opportunity to establish peace with its neighbors and become part of the positive dynamic that is currently taking place in our region and among its peoples.
"Strong nations are not built through blind force but through trust and respect. The Arab world has already extended a peaceful hand to Israel, starting with the Arab Peace Initiative led by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and culminating in the recent establishment of diplomatic relations [between Israel] and four other Arab countries [i.e., the Abraham Accords]. The time has come to care for all our peoples and live together in peace…
"Today, there is a strong and stable movement sweeping through the Arab world, opening the door to hope and to opportunities for a bright future. The time has come for Israel to recognize this dynamic and become a partner in peace, prosperity and stability for the future of our shared region. [It is time] for Israel to understand that the powerful who rely on violence and control over others will eventually lose touch with reality and face unrest. Let us move with the ocean and overcome the mountain of despair."
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), December 17, 2024.