Netanyahu rules out Palestinian state as condition for Saudi-Israeli normalization

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed any prospect of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia if it requires the establishment of a Palestinian state, insisting that such a move would be a victory for Hamas and a defeat for Israel.

In an interview with Israeli Channel 14, Netanyahu responded to Riyadh’s assertion that it would only establish formal ties with Israel if a Palestinian state were created, Caliber.Az reports 

“If they want to create a Palestinian state, they can do it in Saudi Arabia. They have vast territories,” he remarked.

Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected any suggestion of hosting a Palestinian state on its soil and has maintained that normalization with Israel is impossible without an independent Palestinian homeland. This contradicts former US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Riyadh was open to normalization without such conditions.

On February 4, Trump made a controversial statement, proposing that the US take over Gaza after Palestinians were resettled elsewhere and oversee its economic recovery. During a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Trump stated, “We will rebuild Gaza and make it a thriving place once the Palestinians are relocated.”

The next day, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a swift response, reaffirming its unwavering stance on the Palestinian cause. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement declared.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reinforced this position, reportedly telling regional allies that Riyadh’s stance was “clear and explicit, leaving no room for misinterpretation.”

The issue of Palestinian displacement is deeply sensitive in the Arab world, evoking memories of the 1948 Nakba, during which Palestinians were forcibly removed from their land during Israel’s creation.

Trump has made Saudi-Israeli normalization a key diplomatic objective, arguing that “Saudi Arabia is the key to peace in the region.” Washington has been pushing Riyadh to follow the UAE and Bahrain, which normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords.

However, the ongoing war in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023, has hardened Saudi Arabia’s position. With rising anger in the Arab world over Israel’s military offensive, Riyadh has put normalization talks on hold indefinitely.

Given Saudi Arabia’s immense geopolitical influence as the world’s largest oil exporter, its refusal to engage with Israel without a Palestinian state has significant ramifications. Despite mounting US pressure, Riyadh remains resolute: “Without a Palestinian state, there will be no normalization.”

By Tamilla Hasanova