Saudi Arabia links Israel normalization to end of Gaza conflict

Saudi Arabia has reportedly informed the United States that normalization of relations with Israel will not occur until the ongoing conflict in Gaza comes to an end.

Senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have held discussions with individuals close to US President-elect Donald Trump, including his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

During these discussions, Saudi officials are said to have stressed that any formal ties with Israel depend on the conclusion of the Gaza war and the issuance of a statement addressing the Palestinian issue.

While the statement does not need to explicitly recognize a Palestinian state, the officials reportedly suggested that it should include a framework outlining Israel’s approach to establishing a Palestinian state.

The remarks follow earlier reports on December 15 by Haaretz suggesting that an agreement for normalization between the two nations had already been reached. However, Saudi officials appear to have tied the process to resolving the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

To recap, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has publicly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, asserting that Saudi normalization with Israel hinges on recognizing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

However, reports suggest a more nuanced stance behind closed doors. Sources claim the Crown Prince told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken he does not personally prioritize the Palestinian issue but acknowledges its significance to his population.

"For most of them, they never really knew much about the Palestinian issue. And so they're being introduced to it for the first time through this conflict," he reportedly explained.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden's administration has faced challenges in brokering a Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement, with limited time before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

By Aghakazim Guliyev