Saudi-Israel normalization once looked inevitable, but fresh analysis suggests the slowdown may have deeper roots. Israeli media and regional watchers are now linking Riyadh’s cautious turn to internal legitimacy pressures around Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the symbolism of the NEOM mega-project, and shifting regional optics. As Iran-U.S. tensions rise and Gaza remains volatile, every Saudi move carries weight across the Middle East. Is this a tactical pause or a sign of bigger recalculations inside the kingdom?