Saudi Arabia has rejected the idea of establishing ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland.
The statement, issued by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, asserts that its stance on the Palestinians is non-negotiable and that any displacement of Palestinians from their land is highly sensitive.
Trump had stated that the US would take over the Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere, developing it economically. This move sparked concerns among Palestinians and Arab countries, fearing another “Nakba” or catastrophe, similar to the one in 1948 when hundreds of thousands were dispossessed of their homes at Israel’s birth.
The decision is a significant blow to Trump’s efforts to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The US had led months of diplomacy to achieve this goal, but the recent Gaza war led Riyadh to shelve the matter due to Arab anger over Israel’s offensive.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-says-it-wont-establish-ties-with-israel-without-creation-2025-02-05