U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 5, 2024. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS/ File photo
On Wednesday, the Saudi foreign ministry conveyed to the United States its stance regarding diplomatic relations with Israel, asserting that such relations would not be established unless an independent Palestinian state is officially recognized on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital. This statement reaffirmed Riyadh’s call for the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, who have yet to recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, to promptly undertake such recognition.
The reference made pertains to the establishment of a state that the Palestinians have long sought, envisaging its coexistence alongside Israel within territories occupied by Israel during the 1967 conflict, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the Saudi statement emphasized the necessity for the cessation of “Israeli aggression” against the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
Prior to the eruption of the Gaza war in October, the United States had been engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading Saudi Arabia to normalize its relations with Israel and acknowledge the country. However, these efforts were halted due to Arab discontent over Israel’s military offensive. Last week, Reuters reported Saudi Arabia’s potential willingness to accept a political commitment from Israel regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, albeit without a binding agreement, in order to facilitate the approval of a defense pact with Washington before the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
During his recent visit to the region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken disclosed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had reaffirmed the kingdom’s keen interest in pursuing normalization. However, he reiterated Saudi Arabia’s stance that achieving normalization hinged upon two prerequisites: the cessation of the Gaza conflict and the delineation of a clear, credible, and time-bound pathway towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Subsequently, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby remarked on Tuesday that the Biden administration had received encouraging indications of Saudi Arabia and Israel’s willingness to continue discussions on normalization.
In a formal statement, the Saudi foreign ministry reiterated the kingdom’s unwavering position to the U.S. administration, emphasizing that diplomatic relations with Israel would only be entertained upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital. Furthermore, it urged those permanent members of the UN Security Council yet to acknowledge the Palestinian state to expedite such recognition based on the specified borders and capital.
The recent conflict in Gaza has revitalized discussions surrounding the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite the stagnation of negotiations in recent years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained a stance opposing any compromise on full Israeli security west of the Jordan River, viewing it as incompatible with the establishment of a Palestinian state. Notably, countries such as the United States and Britain have reiterated their support for the two-state solution. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced last week the intention for Britain to eventually consider recognizing a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations.
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