*MIDDLE EAST *RE-ENGINEERING* MINISTRATIONS*

SAUDI ARABIA is taking lead in political re-engineering of Middle East. Traditional fault lines are changing at a ferocious pace in the  ''troubled, unstable'  Middle East

Saudi Arabia - the GCC Kingpin - is taking the lead in this ongoing political re-engineering. Roles are being swapped.

Israel is no more adversary, while, the Palestinian leadership is now viewed in Riyadh and some other Gulf capitals not only as a political liability but also as the spoiling party. 

''I believe that each people, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation. I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land,'' Crown Prince Salman said.

His statement was seen by many as attesting further to the informal warming of relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh.

But some people felt the statement as extending recognition to the state of Israel by Saudi Arabia   -without getting anything in return for the Palestinians.

This was bound to generate ripples.

To counter that, immediately afterwards, King Salman had to issue an explanation, underlining that the Saudi support to the Palestinian cause remains intact.

Other Gulf countries also appear to be getting cosy to Tel Aviv.

Qatar always had a link with Israel for decades now, Bahrain, in recent past, has received distinguished visitors from Israel.

Oman also has a history of relation with Israel. 

And in the meantime, the secretary general of the Makkah based Muslim World League, Mohammed Al Issa, a former Saudi Justice Minister, while on a visit to the US decried those who blame-

Jews for the holocaust, only days after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas can under international censure for doing so.

'' To reduce the importance of this disaster [Holocaust] by saying excuses that would make us look away from- this disaster is -

A continuation of the denial of the criminality of this incident- this crime against humanity,'' AI Issa said one recent Thursday at an event organized by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

All these events are interconnected - pointing to the emerging, new alliances within the region.

The Honor and Serving of the latest Operational Research on Middle East continues to Part 3. Thanks author and researcher Syed Rashid Husain.