Axios: Trump presses Saudi prince on Israel normalisation, receives refusal

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) rejected US President Donald Trump’s request to move toward normalising relations with Israel during their recent summit in Washington.

The discussions focused on Washington’s desire for Riyadh to join the expanding circle of regional peace agreements, Axios reports, citing sources.

However, the crown prince firmly reiterated the kingdom’s longstanding position that any normalisation depends on Israel agreeing to a two-state solution and establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Two US officials who described Mohammed bin Salman as a “strong leader” told Axios that the Saudi Crown Prince strongly responded to Trump’s request and remained steadfast in his position.

According to US sources, Trump raised the issue during the November 18 meeting and applied intense pressure on bin Salman to join the Abraham Accords. The conversation reportedly became tense, with Trump continuing to press and the crown prince responding with refusal.

In a subsequent press conference, Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s vision for resolving the Middle East conflict. He stressed that the kingdom seeks peace with Israel, the Palestinians, and the broader region, but only through a “clear plan” that provides a real path to a two-state solution.

Riyadh has repeatedly emphasised the need for a just settlement, starting with the creation of an independent Palestinian state, ultimately leading to a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

The kingdom has long positioned itself as a supporter of dialogue and peaceful resolution in the Middle East.

Mohammed bin Salman visited Washington, D.C. and met with Donald Trump at the White House on November 18, 2025, marking a major high-level engagement between the two leaders.

The talks covered defence and economic cooperation, including potential US-made F‑35 jets, civil nuclear energy collaboration, and Saudi investment initiatives in the United States worth roughly US$1 trillion.

The crown prince reiterated that Saudi Arabia would not normalise relations with Israel without a credible, time-bound path toward Palestinian statehood, keeping the kingdom’s longstanding position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the centre of discussions. 

By Jeyhun Aghazada