Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made it clear on Wednesday, Sept. 18, that Saudi Arabia will not recognize Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The crown prince’s comments emphasized the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also highlighted the kingdom’s commitment to Palestinian sovereignty, something the Saudis view as non-negotiable before any normalization with Israel.
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The crown prince delivered his remarks during his annual address to the Shura Council.
The announcement could delay U.S.-backed normalization talks with Israel, even though diplomatic sources told various news outlets that Saudi Arabia remains focused on securing a U.S. defense pact, which it views as a key strategic goal.
Saudi Arabia was close to securing a deal with the United States to normalize ties with Israel; however, the Israel-Hamas war reportedly put those plans on ice.
The U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution this week demanding Israel end its presence in Palestinian territories in the next year, reflecting growing international pressure on the Jewish state to end its war with Hamas in Gaza.
