Saudi Arabia has said that it will no longer engage in normalization dialogues with Israel until the latter withdraws from all Palestinian territories and allows for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud announced that KSA would suspend any dialogues aimed at normalizing relations with Israel until Israel fully withdraws from all Palestinian territories. The condition also includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital.
Al Saud emphasized Saudi Arabia’s longstanding stance, stating, “We have consistently maintained that normalization with Israel is contingent on its complete withdrawal from Palestinian territories and the establishment of a self-governing Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
He reaffirmed the kingdom’s unwavering commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative, a plan endorsed by the Arab League in 2002. The initiative calls for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Palestinian territories and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
This declaration comes amidst mounting pressure on KSA to normalize its ties with Israel. In recent years, several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, have pursued such diplomatic endeavors.
However, Saudi Arabia has chosen to resist these overtures, reiterating its position that normalization hinges on the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a just and enduring solution.
Dynamics Of The Region
Saudi Arabia’s announcement represents a significant setback for endeavors to foster closer relations between Israel and Arab nations. It underscores the kingdom’s unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as its support for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, stated that any efforts to encourage more Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel would be a display of resistance against Hamas and Iran.
Saudi Arabia has not formally recognized Israel since its establishment in 1948, and until recently, its government indicated that it would only consider normalizing relations if Israel agreed to the creation of a Palestinian state.