By : Agencies
Jordan Daily – The Saudi Foreign Ministry says Riyadh told Washington that there will be no diplomatic relations with “Tel Aviv” unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized.
Saudi Arabia will establish diplomatic relations with “Israel” only if a Palestinian state is recognized within its 1967 borders with the eastern part of al-Quds as its capital and the aggression on the Gaza Strip is ended, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and “Israel” would depend on ending the war in the Gaza Strip and a clear path to establishing a Palestinian state. Earlier, he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh.
“The Kingdom has communicated its firm position to the U.S. administration that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip,” the Ministry said in a statement.
It is necessary that the “Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights,” the ministry stressed, adding that it called on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to recognize the Palestinian State.
Israeli commentators were quick to interpret the statement as “reflecting Saudi anger” over remarks made earlier by John Kirby, the spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
During a press conference earlier this week, Kirby had touched on normalization talks between Riyadh and “Tel Aviv” preceding Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, mentioning that the US had received “positive feedback” from both sides.
This came shortly after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated to CNN that Riyadh would not recognize “Israel” or contribute to the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip unless there is a credible plan for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
On Tuesday, Blinken said that bin Salman reiterated an interest in ties with “Israel” but wants an end to the war in Gaza.
“With regard specifically to normalisation, the crown prince reiterated Saudi Arabia’s strong interest in pursuing that,” Blinken told reporters in Doha a day after their meeting in Riyadh.
