Riyadh Rules Out Normalization With Netanyahu Government, Demands Palestinian Statehood Talks
Saudi Arabia will not agree to normalize relations with Israel as long as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remains in power with his current political coalition, according to a source familiar with the kingdom’s position, who said Thursday that Riyadh views Netanyahu’s policies as an obstacle to peace.
Speaking to Kan News correspondent Roi Kais following Israel’s elections, the source said Saudi Arabia remains interested in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, but only as part of a broader agreement addressing the Palestinian issue and advancing a two-state solution.
“Saudi Arabia wants peace, wants negotiations, wants the Israeli-Palestinian issue resolved on the basis of a two-state solution, but Netanyahu is not there,” the source said.
The remarks represent another indication of Saudi Arabia’s growing frustration with Netanyahu’s approach to the Palestinian issue, although the kingdom has not issued an official response to the results of Israel’s elections.
The source emphasized that Riyadh’s objections are directed at Netanyahu’s policies rather than his personal identity.
“Netanyahu, in our view, only wants to cause problems. He does not want peace, but escalation,” the source said.
At the same time, the official maintained that Saudi Arabia does not seek to dictate who governs Israel and would be prepared to engage with any Israeli leader willing to pursue a negotiated settlement.
“Saudi Arabia has no interest in the identity of Israel’s prime minister. That is an internal Israeli matter,” the source said.
“What matters to us is that whoever it is, he will want to negotiate and resolve the problems that have continued for seventy years,” the source added.
The comments are consistent with previous messages from Riyadh. In August, a source close to the Saudi royal court indicated that normalization would remain off the table without the establishment of a Palestinian state. A member of the Saudi royal family had also previously accused Netanyahu of lacking a genuine interest in peace.
Saudi officials have also rejected suggestions that cooperation with Israel on other regional security matters could persuade the kingdom to soften its position. In September, a Saudi source said that even Israeli intelligence assistance against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen would not be sufficient to secure normalization without progress on the Palestinian question.
The issue has become increasingly significant as Saudi Arabia faces threats from the Houthis and continuing regional tensions involving Iran. Netanyahu had reportedly explored the possibility of using Israeli intelligence and security assistance to encourage Riyadh to reconsider its opposition to normalization.
However, Saudi officials have repeatedly maintained that security cooperation and diplomatic recognition are separate matters, insisting that a resolution of the Palestinian issue remains essential to any agreement.
The latest Saudi comments also follow a Kan News report last week alleging that several Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, sought to influence Israel’s political landscape ahead of the election by encouraging the reunification of Arab political parties.
According to that report, Riyadh held discussions with other regional governments, including Jordan, and worked with the Palestinian Authority in an effort to promote a unified Arab electoral list.
Sources cited in the report claimed that Saudi officials believed a united Arab political bloc could help change the composition of Israel’s next government, potentially producing a coalition more receptive to Saudi demands concerning the Palestinians and regional policy toward Iran.
Those allegations have not been independently confirmed, and Saudi Arabia has not publicly acknowledged involvement in Israeli electoral politics.
The kingdom has yet to issue an official statement addressing the election results or the possibility of a new Israeli government led by Gadi Eisenkot.
