From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Saudi envoy: Normalization contingent on Gaza ceasefire, path to Palestinian state
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Washington Reema Bandar Al Saud says progress toward normalization with Israel will only be possible if there is a ceasefire in Gaza and if a process is launched creating a clear pathway to a Palestinian state.
The Saudi envoy makes the remarks during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“I think the most important thing to realize is the kingdom has not put normalization at the heart of its policy. It’s put peace and prosperity at the heart of its policy,” she says.
“The kingdom has been quite clear. While there is violence on the ground and the killing persists, we cannot talk about the next day.”
Princess Reema elaborates on the Saudi position, saying that “cooler heads must prevail.”
???? | HRH @rbalsaud, #SaudiArabia's Ambassador to the #UnitedStates, at #WEF24:
“The normalization is something that the kingdom from the time of King Fahd has been putting on the table. But the critical point is not without the #Palestinian people.”
#SaudiAtDavos#EKHNews_EN pic.twitter.com/BCpQVj82Ux— AlEkhbariya News (@alekhbariyaEN) January 18, 2024
“There’s trauma and pain on both sides. I can’t take that back. But what we can do is ceasefire now.”
Princess Reema says she is “profoundly concerned” about escalation that could send the region “back to the stone age”.
The comments all but confirm reporting over the past week that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Riyadh is still interested in normalizing ties with Israel but that it will be contingent on steps by Israel aimed at the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.
Blinken reportedly presented the proposal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who rejected the offer.
The Times of Israel Community.