"Peace is the only solution," said Abdul Aziz Khamis, a veteran Saudi journalist and former editor-in-chief of prominent newspapers such as Al-Majalla and Al-Arab, in the tenth episode of the "Mizrahan" podcast on Wednesday.
In the podcast, hosted by Dr. Edy Cohen, Khamis shared his historical perspective on the Jewish people's right to their land in a conversation conducted in Arabic and translated into Hebrew.
Dr. Cohen started the conversation by asking Khamis one question that concerns the Israeli public, "What happened to normalization? Why aren’t we seeing a breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Israel right now?" he asked.
Khamis explained that the Saudi side "Insists on recognizing a Palestinian state as a prerequisite for any future dialogue," as Israel does not accept this presented precondition, even despite agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia.
According to the Saudi journalist, "The problem also lies with the Palestinian leadership – it lacks an effective leadership that can convince the Israelis to pursue peace." He added that regarding peace, Hamas, which draws from the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, "Does not recognize Israel's existence or the Jewish identity on Arab land. "
Khamis explained that Hamas has destroyed the Oslo Accords through terrorist attacks, also being responsible for the October 7 massacre. "As long as there are elements operating with blood and hate, supported by Iran, peace remains distant," he added.
As his second question, Dr. Cohen addressed the antisemitic nature of Mecca mosque sermons, which speak against Jews as people, and going beyond anti-Zionism, asking, "How does this fit with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision?"
The Saudi journalist answered, saying, "There are voices that are mistaken in their approach and in their choice of words, swept away by extreme propaganda. These preachers forget the Quran."
He added, "In Surah Al-Baqara, verse 62, it clearly says that the believers, Jews, and Christians, anyone who believes in God and does good, their reward is secured, and they will not fear. Islamic principles acknowledge the People of the Book and their right to be different. I completely reject this rhetoric. The Prophet Muhammad himself was married to a Jewish woman, and his relations with Jews were good until his death."
Khamis explained that the roots of the problem lie in the logic of hate spread across generations: "We need to formulate a new discourse of tolerance."
Dr. Cohen moved on, asking, "What do you think about the Jews' right to this region?" Dr. Cohen stated that many Israelis feel that hatred is "too deeply rooted and that normalization will not happen in the next decade."
The Saudi journalist explained that "The problem is that we haven't known each other enough. There is a current refusal to accept the other and believe that Israel will collapse, but that is a strategic and historical mistake. We must understand: the Jews have been in this region for thousands of years. They are an integral part of the Middle Eastern fabric. They had a state in the past, just as others did, and this is a reality today recognized by the UN."
Diving into the origins of Jewish existence in the Middle East, Khamis offered a historical review, "Jewish existence in the region predates Islam. Let’s look at Iraq – Jews lived there for over 2,500 years. Isaac Sasson (Sasson Haskel), who was Iraq’s first finance minister, was Jewish and considered one of the best in his role. He fought against the British for Iraq’s oil rights. They had a presence in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria."
He added, "We cannot say they are just 'Ashkenazim who came from Europe.' They are part of our history. If we examine the region's history, we see it is filled with boundary changes shaped by the British and the French, but the Jewish presence is a solid historical fact. Instead of blood and hate, we need to have a dialogue and achieve rights through understanding."
Iranian axis collapse: 'Hamas has become a burnt card for Khamenei'
Later in the interview, Dr. Cohen addressed the matter of the Houthis in Yemen, "What about the Houthis in Yemen? Israel is now operating in Somaliland, and Saudi Arabia seems to be opposing it."
Khamis responded, "It’s absurd. The Houthi threat and the missiles they launched towards Israel led Israel to position itself in the Horn of Africa and in Somaliland. The Houthis, with their foolish policy, allowed Israel to reshape its strategy and find bases near the Red Sea."
"Arab countries complain about Israel's presence, but they did nothing against the Houthis. Israel is acting to protect its security, and it has the right to do so. You cannot deny the right of nations to security while supporting those who attack them. That’s hypocrisy and blindness," he added.
"The Muslim Brotherhood is the source of destruction – anyone who associates with them fails."
Regarding the Muslim Brotherhood's influence in the Middle East conflict, Dr. Cohen asked Khamis' opinion on what he thinks "About the Israeli left cooperating with Mansour Abbas and Ra’am, who are identified with the Islamic Movement?"
The Saudi journalist's answer was clear, "Any entry of the Muslim Brotherhood with their ideology into the coalition will destroy this government from within. Mansour Abbas and his associates try to deny their connection to the Muslim Brotherhood because they understand that the world has started to despise this organization."
He added, "They use words like 'reform' or 'development' to disguise themselves. We saw how the previous Israeli government fell very quickly. Any alliance with these elements brings you closer to defeat and failure. This ideology cannot fit into a democratic or stable government."
Message to the people of Israel: 'Peace is the only solution'
Dr. Cohen concluded the interview by asking Khamis to send a message to Israelis and Jews who were listening to the podcast.
"My message is that peace is the only option, but it must be mutual and based on solid foundations. We all made mistakes in this region – Israel also made a mistake when it thought it could manage Hamas and give them suitcases of money. That mistake cost dearly," he concluded.