This is John Batchel, a conversation with Jonathan Shanzer, Executive Director, Foundation for Defense of Democracy,

about the significance of the visit by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,

Muhammad bin Salman, to the White House.

Not a state visit.

The Crown Prince is not the state or the government.

That is his father.

However, Jonathan sees great promise here.

Does Muhammad bin Salman have the power to make Hamas stand down? That is an open question.

At this point, Jonathan thinks not. However, does Hamas benefit from denying Muhammad bin Salman who's ready to pay for the buildup, the rebuilding of Gaza and seeking peace in the region with a two-state solution?

Unknown. Here's Jonathan to explain the complications of the visit of MBS to the White House.

More tonight.

He has the authority to do so because he is the de facto leader of the country that

controls the two holiest mosques in Islam in Mecca and Medina.

The Saudis are effectively the Vatican for the Muslim world. They hold an immense amount of

influence. Now, whether the Hamas terrorist organization, whether they're willing to listen to

the Saudis is another story. They, of course, answered to different patrons. And I'm speaking here

about Iran and Qatar and the Turks and perhaps to some extent the Malaysians

or maybe even the South Africans. These are the countries that support them. The Saudis are on the

pragmatic side of the Muslim world divide. So the Hamas guys may not listen to the Saudis,

but they can't ignore what the Saudis say. And so this is why

Muhammad bin Salman being in Washington here today, talking about normalization, talking about

closer partnership with the United States, all of these things, I think, portend good things

...