Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel only with path to Palestinian state: Top official

Saudi Arabia will only normalize relations with Israel if there is a clear path forward for a Palestinian state, the country's foreign minister said, potentially putting him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been pushing for relations with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said Sunday on CNN that the only way the region can see "true peace" is "through a credible irreversible process through a Palestinian state. We are fully really, not just as Saudi Arabia but as Arab countries to engage in that conversation. I would hope that the Israelis would be as well. But it's up to them to make that decision."

CNN host Fareed Zakaria asked: "But are you saying unequivocally that if there is not a credible and irreversible path to a Palestinian state, there will not be normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel?" 

"That's the only way we're going to get a benefit, so yes," Al-Saud responded. "Because we need stability and only stability will come through resolving the Palestinian issue."

That same day, Netanyahu had said he would not support a Palestinian state that could pose a threat to Israel so long as he is prime minister. 

Israel must have "full security control" of Gaza and the West Bank, Netanyahu said Sunday. 

"My insistence is what has prevented – over the years – the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel," he also said. "As long as I am Prime Minister, I will continue to strongly insist on this. If someone has a different position, they should show leadership and candidly state their position to the citizens of Israel."

Netanyahu has been pushing for normalized relations with Saudi Arabia in recent years. He said shortly before he was reelected in 2022 that the "big prize is peace with Saudi Arabia, which I intend to achieve if I go back into office."

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.