As Israeli bombs continue to fall on Gaza, killing civilians, destroying homes, and dismantling critical infrastructure, a new initiative emerges from political backrooms that threatens to deal another blow to the Palestinian cause: a proposed oil pipeline linking Saudi Arabia and Israel. This project, being quietly promoted under the guise of economic development, represents a dangerous shift toward normalization with an occupying power amid its most brutal assault on Palestinians in recent history.
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A Pipeline Through Complicity
On April 3, 2025, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen met with his U.S. counterpart Chris White in Washington to present a proposal for a 700-kilometer oil pipeline that would directly connect Saudi Arabia to Israel. The pipeline would form part of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), allowing Gulf oil to bypass the Red Sea and be transported through Israeli territory to European markets.
But this is not just a commercial proposal—it is a political statement. A pipeline of this scale is a strategic partnership. And entering into such an agreement with a state currently engaged in acts that human rights groups and legal scholars have described as genocidal is, at best, an act of disregard—and at worst, a betrayal.
IMEC: A Facade for Normalization
Originally unveiled in September 2023, the IMEC corridor promises railways and ports connecting India to Europe through the Middle East, with Israel as a central hub. While marketed as an initiative to boost regional connectivity and economic cooperation, in reality, the corridor provides a convenient cover for further normalization with Israel—without addressing or even acknowledging the ongoing occupation and daily violations against Palestinians.
A Slap in the Face to Gaza
This proposal comes amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them civilians. Children are being buried under the rubble. Entire families have been wiped out. The siege continues. And yet, rather than taking a stand against the aggression, regional powers are discussing ways to reward the aggressor with billion-dollar partnerships.
Strategic and Ethical Failures
This project, if realized, would have deep and dangerous consequences:
- Unconditional Normalization: Israel is rewarded with regional integration and economic prestige without having to make a single concession on Palestinian rights.
- Undermining Arab Solidarity: Such a move fractures the already weakened Arab consensus on Palestine and signals a retreat from decades of political commitment to the Palestinian cause.
- Security and Sovereignty Risks: Entrusting critical oil infrastructure to a region defined by volatility—and to a country with a history of military aggression—poses serious strategic threats.
Saudi Arabia’s Moral Responsibility
As a leading voice in the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia has long positioned itself as a guardian of Palestinian rights. Yet, by moving toward economic normalization through projects such as this, it risks abandoning that legacy. Strategic cooperation with Israel—especially at this moment—undermines not only Palestinian suffering but Saudi credibility on the international stage.
No to Normalization on the Backs of the Oppressed
As bombs rain down on Gaza, any talk of oil pipelines and economic corridors with the very state responsible for these atrocities is not just morally reprehensible—it is politically destructive. This pipeline does not symbolize progress; it symbolizes betrayal. It sends a clear message: Palestinian lives are negotiable in the pursuit of profit and power.
Now, more than ever, Arab and Muslim countries must draw the line. They must reject normalization built on the graves of the oppressed and stand firm against projects that whitewash Israeli crimes with economic cooperation. The world is watching—and history will remember.
