It seems like every 10 years or so, we hear about how Saudi Arabia is going to "reform," "modernize" and "secularize" their society. Reminds me of the sign they put up in a lot of bars saying "Free beer tomorrow."
A lot of people seem convinced that MBS is great because he now lets women drive cars and allows movie theaters to exist. Another century of that and hey, Saudi Arabia may be as modern and secular as Iran or Iraq.
When MBS stops giving oil money to Wahhabi clerics, I'll be impressed. Until then, he has a slick PR campaign and a move to crush his political enemies (he goes after clerics who oppose him, while funding other clerics who are on his side) and not much else. The fact that Javanka (two liberal moles in the White House) and pro-Muslim liberals like Thomas Friedman admire him doesn't really inspire much trust in MBS either.
“When MBS stops giving oil money to Wahhabi clerics, I’ll be impressed..” etc
It was actually Prince AlWaleed who was funding the mosques built in America. See:
https://www.westernjournal.com/look-who-just-pledged-32-billion-to-promote-islam-and-sharia-law-in-america/
Then last year, MBS consolidated power and had him arrested. Took llts of his cash away from him. Jarad had plenty to do with that.
Results? See:
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/400728-prince-alwaleed-offers-support-to-saudi-crown-princes-reform-agenda
So cheer up. Kushner and MBS actually ARE getting results. And I have barely mentioned the palestinians. They are mostly responsible for the ostracization of the PA, and the money getting pulled. See:
And
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/09/a-saudi-princes-quest-to-remake-the-middle-east