Israel has been trying hard to strengthen ties with the Arab World, especially with Saudi Arabia, for the last couple of years. However, Riyadh has made clear that it is not going to happen.
During an interview to CNN aired on January 21, 2024, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that there could be no normalisation of ties with the Jewish Nation without resolving the Palestinian issue. He stressed on a credible and irreversible Palestinian State, stating: "That is the only way we are going to get a benefit. So, yes, because we need stability and only stability will come through resolving the Palestinian issue." Prince Faisal further said that an Independent Palestinian State could pave the way for West Asia to see true peace and real integration that delivers economic and social benefits to the region. As far as Riyadh's official stand is concerned, the Foreign Minister stressed: "We are fully ready, not just as Saudi Arabia, but as Arab countries, to engage in that conversation. I would hope that the Israelis would be as well, but it is up to them to make that decision."
According to the Saudi Minister, the main aim of Riyadh is to halt civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip. "What we are seeing is the Israelis are crushing Gaza, the civilian population of Gaza. This is completely unnecessary, completely unacceptable and has to stop," he said. Prince Faisal made the comment a day after the local Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed that more than 25,000 Palestinians were killed and over 62,000 received serious injuries in Israel's assault on the region after the October 7 (2023) attack on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas Movement.
It may be noted that US President Joe Biden advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 'Bibi' Netanyahu to accept the need for future Palestinian Statehood on January 19, 2024. Biden "made clear his strong conviction that a Two-State Solution is still the right path ahead". However, the arrogant Israeli Prime Minister rejected the idea of creating a Palestinian State. His Office issued a statement, mentioning that Israel must retain security control over Gaza, even after dealing with Hamas. Of course, this condition clashes with the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.
As expected, Netanyahu's rejection of the US proposal, attempt to reinforce his opposition to a Palestinian State and assertion of Tel Aviv's intent to retain security control have not only frustrated the US, but also the global community. Riyadh has claimed that the Israeli Prime Minister wants to shift from the previous administration's approach.
Meanwhile, Prince Faisal expressed serious concern about Houthi attacks on ships in and around the Red Sea for the past few weeks. He said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believed in freedom of navigation, adding that tensions in the region should be de-escalated. "We, of course, believe very much in the freedom of navigation. And that is something that needs to be protected. But we also need to protect the security and stability of the region. So, we are very focused on de-escalating the situation as much as possible," he told CNN.
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