American Diplomat Saudi and Israel – It's Complicated
Mar 26, 2026
Michael Ratney, a career U.S. diplomat and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, reflects on rapid social reforms and changing public life in Saudi. He discusses Riyadh’s complex calculus on normalization with Israel and its concerns about Iran and regional security. He also shares personal stories from living and working across the Middle East.
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Too Big To Fail Repaired U.S.-Saudi Ties
- U.S.-Saudi relations recovered because both sides concluded the relationship was "too big to fail."
- Quiet, methodical talks (including Saudi-Israeli normalization discussions) helped defuse tensions after Khashoggi and other strains.
Push For Practical Human Rights Reforms
- Focus dialogue on human rights reforms that Saudi leadership can change now rather than re-litigating past abuses.
- Prioritize issues like freedom of expression, judicial transparency, and trafficking where progress is possible.
Guardianship Reforms Transformed Saudi Society
- Saudi internal reforms have radically changed everyday life, especially by dismantling guardianship rules that limited women's autonomy.
- Women can now work, travel, get passports and drive, producing visible societal normalcy across cities.