Saudi FM rules out normalization with Israel without a two-state solution

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed that establishing a Palestinian state requires the Kingdom to establish formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

“We have constantly said that we believe that normalization with Israel is something that is in the interest of the region to a large extent,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in an interview with “Bloomberg” TV in Davos, Switzerland.

True normalization and stability, on the other hand, will only be achieved by giving the Palestinians hope and dignity, according to Faisal.

“This necessitates granting the Palestinians a state, which is the priority,” he added. The kingdom’s neighbors, including the UAE and Bahrain, formalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, a deal brokered by the US.

Since then, Israel has sought to broaden its reach into other Arab countries, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussing ways to improve relations with Saudi Arabia with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan earlier this week.