Saudi Arabia has clearly stated that it will not normalize relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established and the war in Gaza ends. The declaration was made by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a press briefing in New York after attending a high-level international conference.
The conference, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, focused on implementing a two-state solution. Speaking alongside French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Prince Faisal emphasized that Saudi recognition of Israel is directly linked to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
When asked if Saudi Arabia would consider restarting talks based on the Abraham Accords, Prince Faisal responded with optimism. He said that the emerging global consensus supporting Palestinian statehood could open the door to future discussions on normalizing relations with Israel.
However, he strongly warned that dialogue cannot begin while the war in Gaza continues. “There is no reason or credibility in discussing relations while genocide and suffering persist,” he said, referring to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza.
Prince Faisal stressed that peace talks and normalization can only be discussed once the violence in Gaza ends and humanitarian conditions improve. He added that the pain of the people must be reduced before serious talks can begin.
Finally, the Saudi minister reiterated that after achieving peace in Gaza, attention must turn to formally establishing a Palestinian state. Only after reaching this goal, he said, can Saudi Arabia consider restoring ties with Israel.