Saudi Arabia has confirmed that there will be no normalisation of its relations with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established in response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan for Gaza.
During a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that the US could “take over” the Gaza Strip and resettle a portion of its population in Egypt or Jordan while it is rebuilt.
The suggestion prompted outrage in the Arab world, including allegations that the plan amounts to ethnic cleansing.
But it also looks set to create a barrier to Israel’s long-term goal of establishing formal diplomatic ties with Riyadh, potentially laying the groundwork for greater cooperation with the Kingdom.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Foreign Ministry said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasises that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises.
"Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current US administration.”
Saudi foreign policy has been increasingly aligning with the US and Israel for years thanks to the trio’s shared enmity with Iran.
Riyadh sees the Khamenei regime as a key regional opponent and has long regarded Iranian proxies like Hamas with disdain. Indeed, it designated Hamas ally the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in 2014.
Normalisation with Israel would go some way to ending the Israel-Palestine conflict and allow the Saudis to focus on combatting Iran’s influence, starting with the dismantling of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Likewise, an agreement would secure Israel’s place in the region and provide trading ties to one of the most influential states in the Middle East, which also happens to be the world’s largest oil exporter.
There had been reports that normalisation was on the horizon before the October 7 massacres and subsequent Gaza war.
Then-President Biden said at the time that the attack was timed to disrupt negotiations, with Saudi officials accusing Iran of instigating it for that reason.
However, as a senior state in the Arab League, the Kingdom is a long-standing supporter of Palestinian statehood and takes pains not to undermine that cause, making any deal conditional on a two-state solution.
It comes after Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s new ambassador to the US, suggested that an agreement could now be “closer than ever”.
