Watan-Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman finds himself at the center of a new espionage scandal after international reports revealed his involvement in collaborating with Israeli experts to hack the devices of royal family members, including Mohammed bin Nayef and Mutaib bin Abdullah. The objective was clear: to monitor their movements and eliminate any potential threats to his absolute power.
According to sources, bin Salman relied on advanced Israeli technology, particularly the infamous Pegasus spyware developed by NSO Group, after his own technical team failed to operate sophisticated surveillance systems internally. This software, typically used to track political dissidents, was deployed within Saudi Arabia to spy on those closest to the Crown Prince—a move that underscores his deep distrust of even his inner circle within the ruling family.
Saudi opposition activists, including Omar Al-Zahrani, confirmed that bin Salman did not stop at espionage but also resorted to persecuting and arresting some of his rivals, particularly members of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s family. These actions are part of his ongoing efforts to consolidate absolute power within the kingdom and silence any opposition to his rule or ambitions for the throne.
The Pegasus spyware, which bin Salman used to track his adversaries, was not merely a tool for internal repression; it also played a key role in international affairs, including the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Reports confirmed that the Saudi regime used this tool to track Khashoggi before his brutal murder, proving its willingness to employ any means necessary to secure its grip on power.
The issue extended beyond Saudi figures, affecting high-profile international figures as well. Among the victims of these espionage operations was American businessman Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, whose phone was hacked, leading to the leak of private information that sparked widespread controversy in media and political circles.
This scandal is not the first of its kind, but it once again highlights the depth of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Bin Salman has shown no hesitation in granting the Israelis access to the kingdom’s secrets in exchange for tightening his iron grip on power. The pressing question now is: How long will this covert relationship continue? And will the Saudi royal family pay a heavy price for the Crown Prince’s reckless policies?
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