Algerian president: No normalization with Israel until Palestinian state is established

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has reiterated that his country will not normalize relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established.

In an interview with a French newspaper published on February 3, Tebboune responded to a question regarding Algeria's willingness to normalize ties with Israel should a Palestinian state come into being, Caliber.Az reports.

He affirmed: "Of course, on the day that happens." He further emphasized: "Our priority is the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Algeria has long held a firm stance against any diplomatic ties with Israel, consistently rejecting normalization efforts until the establishment of a Palestinian state. The North African nation notably refrained from joining the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw Israel establish diplomatic relations with several Arab nations.

Algeria continues to voice unwavering support for Palestinian rights and advocates for a state based on pre-1967 borders, a position deeply rooted in the country’s revolutionary history and its commitment to Palestinian self-determination.

Regarding relations with France, Tebboune denied any intention to sever ties, stressing that "significant efforts have been made to avoid reaching a rupture." The Algerian president also addressed the issue of Western Sahara, which has caused tension between Algeria and France after Paris recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed region last summer. Tebboune warned French President Emmanuel Macron that his stance was a "grave mistake" and that Algeria would suffer as a result.

The Western Sahara dispute, which began in 1975 after Spain’s withdrawal from the region, remains unresolved. While Morocco controls most of Western Sahara, the Polisario Front, which advocates for independence, seeks a referendum on self-determination—a position supported by Algeria, which hosts refugees from the region. The United Nations does not recognize either Morocco's or the Polisario Front's sovereignty claims.

Tebboune described the current state of Algerian-French relations as "poisoned" and lamented that "time is wasted with President Macron," despite initial hopes of overcoming historical grievances. He suggested that dialogue could resume if strong political statements came from France, but stated: "Certainly, but I will not be the one to make them." He added: "For me, the French Republic is, first and foremost, its president, and there are intellectuals and politicians in France whom we respect."

Algerian-French relations have been fraught with tension since Tebboune took office in late 2019, with disputes over colonial history, migration, and, more recently, the issue of Western Sahara.

By Aghakazim Guliyev