Middle East Conflict Intensifies as Saudi Arabia Cools Talks on Normalizing Relations with Israel

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suspended talks on normalizing relations with Israel, just a year after the kingdom announced closer diplomatic ties with the country.

The de facto leader’s public stance took a harsher turn on the same day a walkie-talkie hand grenade exploded in Lebanon, killing several members of Hezbollah. The explosion in communications equipment also raised concerns that the war could widen.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has been fighting Israeli forces since October last year to show their support for the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas.

Saudi Arabia has previously stated that it wants a path to a Palestinian state. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman even more clearly told Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council that Saudi Arabia will normalize relations with Israel only after having an “independent Palestinian state.”

“We confirm that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without an independent Palestinian state,” he said.

According to Saudi government adviser Ali Shihabi, the kingdom’s position has always been clear, “even if some have suggested that it is flexible.” He said, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hoped to “clear any ambiguity” with his latest comments.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this month that normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is possible before US President Joe Biden leaves office in January. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s comments shattered optimistic messages from the US.

Days after Hamas launched a raid on Israel on October 7 last year, sparking a war in the Gaza Strip, Saudi Arabia suspended talks on a broad agreement with the United States that included the normalization of relations with Israel and a series of provisions for Saudi Arabia.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview with the US channel Fox News a few weeks ago that Saudi-Israeli relations are getting “closer” to normalization “every day”, but he also said: “For us, the issue of Palestine is very important. We need to address that part.”

Key Points:

• Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suspended talks on normalizing relations with Israel.
• The kingdom wants a path to a Palestinian state before normalizing relations with Israel.
• Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been fighting Israeli forces since October last year.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is possible before US President Joe Biden leaves office in January.

Related Topics:

• Middle East Conflict
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• Palestine
• Hezbollah