Saudi Arabia and the Arab–Israeli Peace Process: The Fluctuation of Regional Coordination

This article aims to demonstrate that since the 1970s Saudi Arabia had exercised a policy of regional coordination among Middle Eastern states, and between them and the United States. This policy stems from Saudi leaders' understanding that regional conflict mediation has been, and still is, the best strategy to achieve the Saudi Kingdom's security. This strategy developed into an all embracing perception of playing the role of regional coordinator among the various actors in the Middle East, including the United States. This paper stresses how this policy was shaped in the 1970s, and then came to fruition in the next decade. The analysis revolves around the Saudi initiative for peace between Arab parties and Israel in the 1980s ("The Fahd Plan" leading up to "The Fez resolutions" – 1981–1982) and in the beginning of the twenty-first century ("The Abdullah initiative" leading up to "The Arab peace initiative", 2002–2007).