RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced on Wednesday that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is created. This declaration presents a setback to US efforts aimed at brokering a normalization deal.
In his address to the Shura Council, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s stance: “The kingdom will not cease its tireless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without one.”
This position comes in response to the normalization agreements brokered by former US President Donald Trump in 2020, which saw Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates establish ties with Israel, challenging the long-standing Arab consensus that normalization should follow the creation of a Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia, a key player in the region, has been under pressure as the focus shifted to it.
Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had expressed hopes of securing a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia before President Joe Biden’s term ends in January. During a visit to Haiti on September 6, Blinken suggested that a ceasefire in Gaza could create an opportunity for such a deal, with hopes for normalization hinging on both a reduction in hostilities and a credible path to Palestinian statehood.
The United States has proposed a security package to incentivize Saudi Arabia, aiming to align the deal with support for Palestinian statehood. However, any agreement would require significant concessions, including security assurances from Washington and a viable plan for Palestinian statehood.
Despite these efforts, the current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remains firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
