Your Royal Highness!

Of late, self-doubt has been roiling Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) camaraderie. His gait no longer befits one who is de facto ruler, crown prince, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense of Saudi Arabia, also serves as chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and the Council of Political and Security Affairs.

His condition can be readily fathomed by those who are familiar with the Evil Queen's pride, jealousy, and rage toward her stunningly beautiful and popular stepdaughter, Snow White.

Ironically, he just cannot wish away that his nemesis should not appear in his dreams, and that that too when invariably appearing to dismissively snicker at him.

Especially, since Dec. 13 (2021), the appearances have intensified not only in nightly dreams but even daydreams. Even the Dec. 13 headlines keep hounding him that history noted that Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to conduct an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 2020.

UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) is deputy supreme commander of the Emirates armed forces and like MBS the de facto ruler.

While MBS holds sway over 35,602,651 souls, MbZ lords over 10,064,313 people. It hurts to even imagine that someone ruling a population two times less than him is enjoying such special status with the U.S., and above all, the U.K.

MBS is ready to normalize relations with Israel, but while being de facto was hassle-free for MbZ, it is a shackle for MBS… his old guard father.

The nights are terrible, whatever situation emerges in a dream, there is MbZ haunting him.

It was such an excruciating situation that he summoned Vehshi al-Abnawaa, chief defense analyst, and Fulan Al-Aldabue, chief of national security desk, who is also the chief logistics advisor for Operation Decisive Storm – the Yemen war.

MBS explains while the Saudi peace initiative that was presented in 2002, but much sand has blown across Rub' Al Khali -- The Empty Quarter. Despite its not being acted upon, Arab countries are treading over Palestinian dreams to embrace Israel, ever mindful of former Present Trump’s wise words that they can’t last more than a few days without American support.

MBS, morose as he is, signals away the qahwa bearing server, and addresses his advisors, “How come that MbZ is as acting a ruler as I am, but he got to sprint far ahead in normalizing ties with Israel…”

Al-Abnawaa, seeks permission and offers, “Your Royal Highness, it goes to your credit that you honor His Majesty King Salman, your father, in this delicate policy issue. In His Majesty’s hearts ring the words of your grandfather, His Majesty King Abul Aziz, who asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt in their first ever meeting, ‘What injury have Arabs done to the Jews of Europe? It is the Christian Germans who stole their homes and lives. Let the Germans pay.’ If I am right the date was Feb 14, 1945, as the spoke on board the American destroyer Quincy in the Suez Canal as World War II drew to a close.”

At his jittery best, MBS rattles, “Enough of old tales, but today’s realities are different. Germans!!! Good she has retired … [chancellor] Angela Merkel tried to act spoilsport by reminding Naftali not to lose sight of establishing a Palestinian state. Where is Palestine?

“But MbZ gets to be the master of his own policies… and like me, he too is an acting ruler… his older brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, president of the UAE recovered from his stroke long ago, but MbZ calls the cards!

“I am 36! I am not a child! [he screams] … my father is nearly 86 and rarely making public appearances. I am in-charge. I met with French President Emmanuel Macron and led the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. And there is national and media acceptance of a parallel, even more important, role for the crown prince even when my father fulfils all his duties…

“Why should the Saudis and I be deprived of taking Dead Sea mud baths in Israel, when that mud is packed with minerals like calcium, iodine, potassium, and bromide.

“You know, how these Americans have assumed that they can bash me with Khashoggi’s ghost… It is as intimidating as Disney’s Caspar, the friendly ghost. I am told [President Joe] Biden has vowed a tougher approach than Trump, but he has yet to talk to me… To win America’s heart, the key is Israel.

“OK … OK… I got it! I am going to tell my father about the healing Dead Sea sands and surprise him by taking him there and arrange [Israeli prime minister] Naftali Bennett to receive him there… Pronto Israel is recognized! Will Biden call me?”