Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, announced on Tuesday that the kingdom could potentially recognize Israel under certain conditions.
He indicated that such recognition would be contingent on a comprehensive agreement that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prince Faisal expressed the view that regional peace, including peace for Israel, is intricately linked to achieving stability and statehood for the Palestinians.
When questioned about the possibility of recognizing Israel as part of a broader political agreement, he responded affirmatively, stating, “Certainly.”
The Foreign Minister elaborated on Saudi Arabia’s commitment to pursuing regional peace through the creation of a Palestinian state, noting ongoing collaboration with the US administration.
He specifically highlighted the relevance of these efforts in the context of Gaza, emphasizing the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue.
This announcement comes in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s decision to temporarily halt US-backed plans for the normalization of ties with Israel after the eruption of conflict in October between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
Sources familiar with Riyadh’s thinking revealed that the kingdom reevaluated its diplomatic priorities swiftly after the events in October.
Before the escalation on October 7, both Israeli and Saudi leaders had signaled progress in establishing diplomatic relations, a development that held the potential to reshape the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
However, the subsequent conflict prompted a reordering of priorities, impacting the trajectory of Saudi-Israeli relations and their broader implications for the region.
