Normalization with Israel? The Saudi crown prince has much bigger plans

It's 2006. Al Faisaliah Tower, an imposing skyscraper in the vibrant business district of the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. Karen Elliott House, a senior journalist at The Wall Street Journal who would later serve as its foreign editor and publisher, arrives in the lobby. With her is a good friend, Abdullah, a civil servant with ties to the government, who's accompanied her on her many visits to the kingdom as an interpreter and liaison.

Subscribe now for on-the-ground reporting and analysis

This is a subscriber-only article.Cancel anytime

Already signed up? Log in

This is a subscriber-only article.