Progress towards US-Saudi Deal with Israel Condition
United States and Saudi Arabia are on the brink of striking a significant deal, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. This deal would provide Riyadh with security guarantees from Washington while also steering the Gulf nation away from alliances with US rivals. However, a crucial aspect of this agreement involves a normalization clause, contingent upon Israel’s commitment to facilitating the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
Miller admitted that there’s still some work to be done on this front. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reluctance to make concessions before the recent Hamas-led attack on October 7th, which sparked the Gaza conflict, has complicated matters further. Netanyahu has adamantly opposed any concessions, viewing them as capitulation to Palestinian terrorism.
Miller expressed optimism about resolving the remaining details, emphasizing that bilateral negotiations between the US and Saudi Arabia are nearing completion. Despite the challenges posed by the recent conflict in Gaza, Saudi Arabia has continued discussions with the White House to broker a normalization agreement with Israel.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the diplomatic initiative during his recent visit to Riyadh, focusing on the prospects of a two-state solution, Gaza’s reconstruction, and security governance. Miller highlighted that while progress has been made on various aspects of the agreement, Saudi Arabia remains firm on its stance: calm in Gaza and a viable path to Palestinian statehood are non-negotiable prerequisites for any normalization with Israel.
In summary, while significant strides have been made in crafting a regional diplomatic initiative involving Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, the prospect of normalization with Israel hinges on achieving stability in Gaza and advancing the cause of Palestinian statehood.
