Saudi Arabia announced that it would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state. This statement contradicts President Donald Trump’s claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland.
Trump had suggested that the U.S. intended to take over the Gaza Strip, stating this during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a surprising declaration, Trump mentioned on Tuesday that the United States would take control of the war-torn enclave after resettling Palestinians elsewhere. He also discussed plans to develop Gaza economically.
Following this, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Wednesday rejecting any efforts to displace Palestinians from their land. The ministry emphasized that the kingdom’s stance towards the Palestinians is non-negotiable.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made it clear that the kingdom’s position is ‘a clear and explicit manner’ that cannot be misinterpreted.
The issue of displacing Palestinians is particularly sensitive for both Palestinians and Arab nations.
As the Gaza war continues, Palestinians fear experiencing another “Nakba,” which refers to the time when hundreds of thousands lost their homes during the establishment of Israel.
The stakes are high for both Trump and Israel regarding Saudi policy in the Middle East.
Australia’s position remains unchanged, consistent with its stance from this morning, last year, and even a decade ago under the Howard government.
The United States had spent months working diplomatically to encourage Saudi Arabia, a powerful and influential Arab state, to normalize relations with Israel. However, the ongoing Gaza war, which began in October 2023, forced Riyadh to pause these efforts due to widespread Arab anger over Israel’s military actions.
Trump hopes Saudi Arabia will follow the example of countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
These nations signed the Abraham Accords in 2020 and normalized relations with Israel, breaking a longstanding taboo.
Establishing ties with Saudi Arabia would be a significant achievement for Israel, as the kingdom holds considerable influence in the Middle East, the broader Muslim world, and is the largest oil exporter globally.
Click here for more World news.