DUBAI
Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it will not move forward with normalising relations with Israel unless there is a credible roadmap toward the creation of a Palestinian state. The statement comes ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MbS) scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on November 18.
Despite Trump’s confidence that Riyadh will soon join the Abraham Accords, Saudi officials have privately informed Washington that their stance remains unchanged. “There can be no agreement without progress toward Palestinian statehood,” said two Gulf sources, stressing the kingdom’s commitment to a two-state solution.
The Crown Prince’s visit, his first to Washington since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is expected to focus primarily on defence and economic cooperation. Both nations aim to finalise a strategic defence pact that expands military collaboration and technology sharing, though it falls short of a full treaty. The proposed deal would strengthen U.S. security guarantees for Riyadh while allowing for future upgrades into a more binding treaty.
Analysts say MbS will likely use his meeting with Trump to seek stronger U.S. backing for Palestinian sovereignty. “He won’t consider formal ties with Israel unless there is a credible path to a Palestinian state,” noted Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer.
Saudi Arabia’s stance has hardened following Israel’s devastating Gaza offensive and the widespread anger across the Arab world. Officials insist any normalisation must be part of a broader peace framework, not just an extension of the Abraham Accords.
Meanwhile, the defence deal aims to cement America’s military role in the Gulf, expand arms sales, and restrict Saudi-China defence ties. Riyadh believes addressing its national security needs is essential before any regional diplomatic realignment, including ties with Israel.
