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Saudi Arabia open to Israel deal – but only after Palestinian state established

Saudi Foreign Minister says Riyadh open to peace deal with Israel – but only after Gaza war ends and Palestinian state established.

World Israel News Staff

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Foreign Minister for Saudi Arabia, announced Tuesday that the Arab kingdom would once again be open to considering normalizing ties with Israel—as soon as Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire and the creation of a Palestinian state.

“We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state,” the prince said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Prince Faisal added that his government is working with the U.S. towards a broader peace deal which include Palestinian statehood, as well as normalization with Israel.

“There is a pathway towards a much better future for the region, for the Palestinians, and for Israel, that is peace, and we are fully committed to that.”

But, he added, renewed talks on normalization could only come after the war in Gaza has ended.

“A ceasefire on all sides should be a starting point for permanent sustainable peace, which can only happen through justice to the Palestinian people.”

Last week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and confirmed that Saudi Arabia has a “clear interest” in pursuing normalization—although it would wait until the Israel-Gaza war has ended.

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Saudi Arabia expressed interest in a possible normalization agreement with Israel in September — but the October 7th Gaza invasion of Israel and the subsequent Israeli counter-terror operation pushed normalization talks off the agenda.