Saudi Arabia has decided to suspend discussions on the possibility of normalizing ties with Israel as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas escalated.
The decision was made amidst a large-scale offensive launched by Hamas on October 7, resulting in the loss of lives on both sides.
A source familiar with told foreign news agency that Saudi Arabia had informed US officials of its decision to pause the talks.
This development coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s scheduled meeting with his Saudi counterpart, marking the latest stop on his six-nation tour of the region.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, has never recognized Israel and did not participate in the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords, which led its Gulf neighbors Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco, to establish formal ties with Israel. The Biden administration had been urging Saudi Arabia to take similar steps, emphasizing the importance of normalizing relations.
Under the de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh had outlined conditions for normalization, including security guarantees from Washington and assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Prince Mohammed expressed optimism about a potential deal while emphasizing the significance of resolving the Palestinian issue.
However, analysts had viewed the normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel as a challenging prospect even before the outbreak of the conflict. The ongoing war has further complicated the situation, making it difficult for any Arab country to engage seriously in discussions about normalizing relations with Israel, given the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
In the past week, Saudi Arabia has expressed growing concern about the fate of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has launched numerous strikes, leading to the evacuation of the territory’s north and the displacement of thousands. Riyadh strongly criticized Israel, denouncing the displacement of Palestinians within Gaza and attacks on defenseless civilians, marking its most robust condemnation of Israel since the conflict began.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, after meeting with Secretary of State Blinken, emphasized the urgent need to de-escalate the situation to prevent further civilian suffering. Blinken highlighted efforts to establish safe areas in Gaza and create a humanitarian assistance corridor to aid those in need, emphasizing the shared goal of protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s recent diplomatic outreach to regional leaders reflects its commitment to stopping the ongoing escalation. The Crown Prince, in a historic move, discussed the current military situation in Gaza with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, marking the first call between the two leaders since their countries announced a surprise China-brokered rapprochement in March after seven years of severed ties.
