Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia will only pursue full normalization with Israel if there is a clear, credible, and actionable path toward an independent Palestinian state. Speaking alongside US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, the Crown Prince emphasized that the kingdom is willing to join the Abraham Accords, but not at the cost of sidelining Palestinian statehood.
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords. But we want also to be sure that we secure a clear path of a two-state solution,” he said, underscoring Riyadh’s long-standing diplomatic stance.
President Trump praised the Crown Prince, noting his “very good feeling” toward the accords and pressing him on the kingdom’s readiness. The Crown Prince responded firmly:
“We want peace for the Israelis. We want peace for the Palestinians. We want them to coexist peacefully in the region, and we will do our best to reach that date.”
The remarks come as regional diplomatic efforts intensify. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco normalized ties with Israel in 2020—a move hailed by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major breakthrough.
Yet Saudi Arabia remains the decisive regional player. As home to Islam’s two holiest sites and a geopolitical powerhouse, its participation in the accords would mark a transformative shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
However, unlike the UAE, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly maintained that Palestinian statehood is a non-negotiable prerequisite. This position stands in sharp contrast to Israel’s current leadership. Prime Minister Netanyahu—while offering vague support in a Trump-backed Gaza ceasefire plan—continues to oppose a full two-state framework. His coalition includes far-right factions that reject Palestinian sovereignty and advocate for Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Saudi Arabia’s latest statement places renewed international attention on the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian question and signals that any breakthrough will require meaningful commitments from all sides.
