Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Saudi Arabia’s position on the Palestinian issue remains unchanged and any normalization of relations with Israel must be tied to the creation of a Palestinian state, a Saudi source told Al Arabiya English on Monday, reaffirming a longstanding policy amid renewed regional diplomacy efforts.
The source said there must be “an irreversible pathway to a Palestinian state,” underscoring Riyadh’s continued commitment to Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for establishing formal ties with Israel.
The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Muslim-majority nations across the Middle East and beyond to normalize relations with Israel as part of what he described as an emerging peace framework following efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran.
In a lengthy social media post on Monday, Trump said he had spoken with several regional leaders over the weekend while discussing diplomatic efforts related to the conflict with Iran. He argued that countries involved in those discussions should join the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements first launched during his administration in 2020.
“After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote.
The Abraham Accords led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. The agreements marked a significant shift in regional diplomacy but did not include Saudi Arabia, whose leadership has consistently linked normalization to progress on Palestinian statehood.
Riyadh Maintains Longstanding Position
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without a credible and irreversible process leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
The Kingdom’s position is rooted in the Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, which offers normalization between Arab states and Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
While speculation has periodically emerged regarding potential Saudi-Israeli normalization, particularly in recent years amid growing security and economic cooperation between regional partners, Saudi officials have consistently emphasized that the Palestinian issue remains central to any future agreement.
Regional Diplomacy Continues
Trump’s latest comments come at a time of heightened diplomatic activity across the Middle East following efforts to reduce regional tensions and stabilize security conditions after months of conflict and uncertainty.
However, Riyadh’s latest message signals that despite shifting regional dynamics and international pressure, Saudi Arabia continues to view Palestinian statehood as a non-negotiable element of any future normalization deal with Israel.
The reaffirmation is likely to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a key advocate for a two-state solution while maintaining its strategic role in ongoing regional diplomatic efforts.
