Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel Normalization Under Benjamin Netanyahu
Saudi Arabia has declined to normalize relations with Israel, citing Benjamin Netanyahu's policies and the lack of a two-state solution as primary obstacles.
The Government of Saudi Arabia has declined to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel as long as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the current coalition. Saudi officials view Netanyahu's policies as an obstacle to peace, accusing him of pursuing escalation rather than a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Riyadh maintains that any normalization agreement must be tied to a two-state solution for the Palestinians. The kingdom asserts that cooperation on other regional issues, including the fight against the Houthis in Yemen, cannot replace the requirement for a Palestinian state.
While Saudi officials describe the choice of Israel's leader as an internal matter, they emphasize that the next government must be willing to negotiate. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia, with support from Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority, encouraged Israeli Arab parties to unite ahead of elections to influence the composition of the next coalition.
