Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital before normalizing relations with Israel. Speaking at the Shura Council in Riyadh, he condemned Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people and affirmed that diplomatic ties with Israel would only be considered after the Palestinian statehood goal is achieved.
While progress was being made towards normalization, recent events, including the Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza conflict, halted discussions. Despite this, the US has been actively involved in brokering a deal. The Saudi government has stressed that Palestinian statehood is a key prerequisite for any normalization agreement with Israel.
Stay Updated with MEE’s Jerusalem Dispatch Newsletter
Sign up for exclusive insights on Israel-Palestine and more
While US-Saudi diplomacy indicates progress towards normalization, Saudi Arabia maintains a stance supporting Palestinian statehood. Despite this, reports suggest a crackdown on social media criticism of Israel within the kingdom.
Senior Saudi royal urges US to cut financial and military support to Israel
Read More »