Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler says the kingdom will not establish ties with Israel until a Palestinian state has been created in a blow to US efforts to seal a “normalisation” deal.
“We renew the kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the opening session of its advisory Shura Council.
“The kingdom will not cease its tireless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without one.”
As recently as earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been holding out the prospect of the swift establishment of ties with the Gulf Arab state as a potential dividend for Israel from a ceasefire and captive-release deal for Gaza.
The United States has readied a security package to offer Saudi Arabia if it normalises relations with Israel, Blinken said earlier this year, as it seeks incentives for Israel to support a Palestinian state.
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