Bandar bin Sultan vs Reuven Rivlin

Bandar bin Sultan served as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005, the longest tenure of any Saudi ambassador. He played a key role in shaping US-Saudi relations, particularly during the Gulf War and the Iraq War.

Bandar was involved in facilitating secret US arms sales to Iran in exchange for hostages, a key component of the Iran-Contra affair. He acted as an intermediary between the US and Iran, though his exact role remains disputed.

After leaving the ambassadorship, Bandar was appointed Secretary-General of the Saudi National Security Council, where he continued to influence foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and the Middle East peace process.

Rivlin was elected Speaker of the Knesset, serving until 2013. He used the position to defend parliamentary democracy and free speech, often clashing with coalition leaders.

Rivlin was elected as the tenth President of Israel by the Knesset. He took office in July 2014, succeeding Shimon Peres, and served as a largely ceremonial head of state.

Rivlin publicly criticized the Nation-State Law, which defined Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, arguing it could harm democratic values and relations with minorities.

During Israel's prolonged political crisis with multiple elections, Rivlin repeatedly urged compromise and warned against threats to democratic institutions. He played a key role in mediating coalition talks.