๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆโœŒ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ “Saudi-Israel BFFs Soon? Climate Goals Could Spark Unlikely Friendships” ๐Ÿ’จ๐ŸŒ

TL;DR;
Climate change and green initiatives might just be the cupid’s arrow to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’š There’s a whisper in the wind that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman didn’t straight-up say no to normalizing relations with Israel. This revelation, revealed by Axios, could be the opening act of a new era in Arab-Israeli relations. ๐Ÿค But it’s not all hearts and roses yet – Saudi Arabia’s alignment with Israel would need a firm base, which might be the mutual goal of combating climate change. ๐Ÿ‘€๐ŸŒฟ

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Let’s talk green and diplomacy, folks! ๐ŸŽฉ๐ŸŒณ On September 27, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) had a little chit-chat with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Their rendezvous happened in Neom, the futuristic city being built on Saudi Arabiaโ€™s Red Sea coast. Word on the street? Sullivan brought up the subject of Saudi-Israeli relations, and MBS didn’t dismiss it. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ’ฌ

Now, this news is as hot as global warming itself! If Saudi Arabia openly normalizes ties with Israel – swapping the secret texts for a Facebook official status – it would be a massive leap forward in Arab-Israeli relations. ๐Ÿ’‘๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

But hey, it ain’t that easy! The Arab Peace Initiative from 2002, backed by MBSโ€™s uncle, is still the Muslim stance on Israel. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that moving on from that stance requires some solid reasons. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ“œ

So, what could tip the scales? Cue the climate! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿƒ MBS’s ambitious Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives, announced ahead of COP26, aim to turn the desert kingdom into a global environmental leader. Imagine that transition โ€“ it’s like seeing your friend’s nerdy brother become the prom king! ๐Ÿค“โžก๏ธ๐Ÿ‘‘

Yet, the challenge is real. In 2018, renewable energy made up just 0.05% of Saudi’s electricity supply. MBS wants that to jump to 50% by 2030 and hit net-zero emissions by 2060. ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒž Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? Not with Israel’s expertise in hi-tech development, especially in renewable energy.

It’s like Israel’s shouting, “Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!” With over 130 environmental organizations under one roof and a government focused on combating climate change, Israel’s an ideal ally to help Saudi Arabia nail its environmental goals. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ”ง

But this could be more than just a business deal, right? After all, an open alliance with Israel could inspire other Muslim nations to follow suit. It’s like when that one brave soul at the party dives into the pool with their clothes on, and everyone else soon joins in. ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ’ฆ

So, while it’s clear Saudi Arabia and Israel could help each other out big time, the million-dollar question is – will they? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

Do you think environmental challenges could become the bedrock of future diplomacy? And if it happens, what changes might it bring to the Middle East, and the world at large? ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ”ฎ Let’s hear your thoughts! ๐Ÿ’ญ๐Ÿ“ฃ