^{Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Photo}

Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, Middle East Eye reports on September 19th. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated on Wednesday, September 18th, that this state must have East Jerusalem as its capital. He also stated this during his annual address to the Shura Council in Riyadh:

The Kingdom will not cease its diligent efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. We confirm that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until that goal is achieved.

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Bin Salman, who also serves as Saudi Arabia’s prime minister, expressed his government’s condemnation of Israel’s “crimes” that violate international law:

The Palestinian cause is a top priority for Saudi Arabia, and we reiterate the kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people, in disregard of international and humanitarian law in a new and bitter chapter of suffering.

We extend our thanks to the countries that recognised the Palestinian state in embodiment of international legitimacy, and we urge the rest of the countries to take similar steps.

Saudi Arabia and Israel had been advancing toward normalizing relations prior to the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7th, followed by Israel’s military response in Gaza.

In the weeks leading up to the attack, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had acknowledged growing ties with Israel, stating that relations were improving “every day”. Signs of informal normalisation were evident in areas such as defence and technology.

Middle East Eye and agencies