No Israel Ties Without Recognition of Palestinian State, by Reuters

Saudi Arabia Cites Conditions for Diplomatic Relations with Israel

Saudi Arabia has communicated to the United States that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a statement from the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

The ministry emphasized its call for the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to do so, referring to a state that Palestinians have long sought to establish alongside Israel in territories occupied during the 1967 war, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Additionally, the statement condemned what it termed "Israeli aggression" in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the affected areas.

The United States had been engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to encourage Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel until military actions in Gaza prompted Riyadh to pause discussions due to rising anger in the Arab world over the situation.

Recent reports indicated that Saudi Arabia might accept a political commitment from Israel regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, rather than a legally binding agreement, as part of efforts to advance a defense pact with the U.S. before the upcoming presidential election.

During a regional visit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s interest in pursuing normalization. However, the Crown Prince insisted that two key conditions must be met: an end to the conflict in Gaza and a credible plan for the establishment of a Palestinian state within a specified timeframe.

White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby indicated that the Biden administration has received positive signals suggesting that Saudi Arabia and Israel are open to continuing discussions on normalization.

The Saudi foreign ministry reiterated its firm stance that diplomatic relations with Israel are contingent upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The ongoing Gaza conflict has renewed discussions surrounding the two-state solution, despite the lack of substantial negotiations in recent years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that he will not compromise on full Israeli security along the Jordan River, which he argues is incompatible with the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their support for the two-state solution, with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron indicating that the UK may consider recognizing a Palestinian state at some point, including through the United Nations.