Saudi Arabia remains committed to pursuing a normalization agreement with Israel even after the conclusion of its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, according to a statement from a Saudi envoy on Tuesday.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, conveyed in a radio interview with the BBC that Riyadh is still open to establishing ties with Israel as part of an overarching two-state solution.
Bandar emphasized the longstanding interest in reaching a deal with Israel, stating, “Absolutely there’s interest, there’s been interest since 1982 and before. We’ve been at this for a long time, and willing to accept Israel for a long time; it’s a reality that’s there that we have to live with. But we can’t live with Israel without a Palestinian state.”
Regarding discussions leading up to October 7, Bandar mentioned that talks had been ongoing for a significant period. While not divulging specific details, he noted that a deal was close, and Riyadh’s ultimate goal included nothing less than an independent state of Palestine.
Bandar affirmed that, even after October 7, Saudi Arabia believes in normalization but not at the expense of the Palestinian people.
Before the outbreak of violence on October 7, Israel and Saudi Arabia were reportedly close to finalizing a historic normalization deal. The subsequent Hamas onslaught led to a conflict in which Israel launched a large-scale operation against Hamas in Gaza.
Bandar indicated that more than 22,000 people in Gaza have died, according to unverified figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
When asked about the potential role of Hamas in a future Palestinian state, Bandar suggested that change is possible with optimism and hope.
However, he stressed the importance of recognizing that both sides have suffered losses in the conflict, emphasizing the need for compromise. Bandar criticized the longstanding “extreme absolutist perspective” in the conflict and highlighted the necessity of international involvement to stabilize post-war Gaza.
These remarks by Bandar followed a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where both figures indicated that talks about normalization were still feasible.
