Saudi Arabia will not normalise relations with Israel unless the Palestinian issue is resolved, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told US news outlet CNN in an interview on Sunday.
Emphasising the importance of a credible and irreversible Palestinian state, Prince Faisal stated, “That’s the only way we’re going to get the benefit.”
He underscored the need for stability, asserting that it can only be achieved through addressing the Palestinian matter.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prince Faisal reiterated this stance, declaring that Israel cannot experience true peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Prior to Israel’s genocide in Gaza starting on October 7 last year, Saudi Arabia was engaged in discussions for potential normalisation with Israel, mediated by the US.
However, analysts suggest that the conflict led to the postponement of these talks.
The Israeli offensive, triggered by a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas, resulted in significant casualties and damage.
According to reports, at least 25,105 Palestinians were killed, 62,681 injured, and nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have lost their lives.
The aftermath of the offensive left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced, facing acute shortages of essential resources, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure suffered damage or destruction, as reported by the UN.
