Saudi Arabia has decided to suspend discussions on the potential normalization of relations with Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. The conflict was initiated by a large-scale attack launched by Hamas on October 7, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Saudi Arabia, a country that has never officially recognized Israel, chose not to participate in the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords, which led to its Gulf neighbors, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco establishing formal ties with Israel. The US administration, under President Joe Biden, had been urging Saudi Arabia to follow suit.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, had previously outlined certain conditions for normalizing relations with Israel, including security guarantees from the United States and assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program. In a recent interview with Fox News, Prince Mohammed expressed optimism about reaching a deal but emphasized the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue.
The decision to pause the normalization talks coincides with a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Saudi Arabia as part of his tour of the region. Over the past week, Saudi Arabia has expressed growing concerns about the well-being of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, particularly as Israel intensified its military operations, leading to the evacuation of the territory’s northern regions and the displacement of thousands of residents.
Riyadh has also engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing escalation, reaching out to regional leaders both within and beyond the Middle East. In a notable development, Crown Prince Mohammed had a conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the first such contact between the two nations since their reconciliation brokered by China in March after seven years of severed ties.
On a related note, Saudi Arabia issued a strong statement on Friday condemning the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the targeting of defenceless civilians, marking the country’s most significant criticism of Israel since the beginning of the conflict.
