With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader must now decide whether to recognise Israel before a Palestinian state is created.

Israel’s national security minister Ben Gvir claimed he has repeatedly foiled a hostage and ceasefire deal with Hamas over the past year as he threatened to quit the Benjamin Netanyahu cabinet over a fresh deal being brokered by the US.

Shafrir notes that Israel's risk premium is still at high levels: "Israel's risk premium has already fallen sharply since the beginning of November (against expectations at the time for an end to the war in Lebanon), but it is still high - on the international market, Israel's bonds are still traded similarly to companies with a BBB minus rating."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is tapping the brakes on claims of success by President Biden, President-elect Trump and partners in the Middle East that a ceasefire and hostage release

Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip whilst Israel insists details are still being finalised

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its 2025 GDP growth projection for Saudi Arabia to 3.3%, mainly due to extended oil production cuts, it said on Friday in the latest update to its global outlook.

Saudi Arabia brings out the worst in the world of international sports in terms of politics and greed. FIFA’s awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup hosting rights is just the tip of the iceberg.

With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader must now decide whether to recognise Israel before a Palestinian state is created.

Chances of the ceasefire deal unravelling after the hostage-for-prisoner exchange is completed are high. What happens after that is uncertain. Who controls Gaza? Is there a chance for permanent peace?

In his second term, Donald Trump should ditch his predecessor’s over-committed approach to Saudi-Israeli normalization.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, expected to begin its first phase Sunday, has brought relief to the international community but questions about whether the truce will hold — an issue that President-elect Trump will have to oversee when he takes office next week.