[barry-cotter]

> Thank you! It’s widely accepted and known in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries that NSO is used by their dictators. Not sure why israel gov, the only democracy in that part of the world, is helping dictators by approving NSO to be sold to counties like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Mexico!

Dictatorial and royal Arab governments are much friendlier to Israel than any democratic government would be. They’re not willing to officially regularise relations because they know how much their populace hates Israel but they’re perfectly willing to work with Israel. Israel knows this. That’s why they’re willing to work with these governments; they’re the closest to friends and allies they’re ever going to get as neighbours.

[flyinglizard]

Precisely that, although the irony is that while the regimes themselves, anywhere in the Sunni Arab world, are friendly and cooperative towards Israel, their educational textbooks still preach for hatred and rejection of Israel and often times straight antisemitism. It's how they prop a common enemy to blame for their troubles.