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Israel-Saudi Arabia relations

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright (R) speaks as US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US President Donald Trump listen in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing about quantum computing, on June 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
July 25, 2026, 7:12 pm
Trump said to fume at energy secretary for announcing Saudi nuclear deal without his okay
CNN says US president was further irked when agreement was criticized in conservative media, before he publicly conditioned it on normalization with Israel
By ToI Staff, Jacob Magid and Agencies
US President Donald Trump (right) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leave at the conclusion of a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025. (Jim WATSON / AFP)
July 24, 2026, 9:01 pm
Trump’s belated normalization condition for Saudi nuke deal doesn’t erase all Israeli fears
US president insists deal already signed depends on Riyadh joining Abraham Accords — a difficult demand for kingdom to swallow. Either way, he’s making moves without asking Israel
By Lazar Berman
US President Donald Trump walks to the presidential limousine, known as The Beast, after arriving on Air Force One at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, July 22, 2026, in Marietta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
July 23, 2026, 5:10 pm
Trump says Saudi civilian nuclear pact is conditioned on normalization with Israel
PM’s office credits Iran war with creating climate for deal, says it’s a ‘historic leap forward’ for peace, Saudi source counters: ‘Tweets don’t overturn signed agreements’
By Lazar Berman, Jacob Magid and Agencies
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) meeting with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in a handout picture made available on April 13, 2023. (SPA/AFP)
July 13, 2026, 9:21 am
Lindsey Graham reportedly prepared push for Israel-Saudi ties after Israeli election
Report says late senator believed Iran war created opening for normalization and had discussed initiative with top officials; was set to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia to assess matter
By Nava Freiberg and Lazar Berman
A Zim cargo ship is seen outside the port of Haifa on May 1, 2026. (Sharon Leibel/Flash90)
July 8, 2026, 3:17 pm
National security concerns threaten to capsize sale of Israeli shipping giant Zim
Government must okay $4.2 billion deal with Hapag-Lloyd, but officials raise red flags over German firm’s Gulf backers and worry non-Israeli owners could leave country without vital strategic lifeline
By Sharon Wrobel
An Elbit MUSIC system in action (Photo credit: Courtesy)
June 28, 2026, 8:11 pm
Israel sold advanced F-15 systems and gear to Qatar and Saudi Arabia – report
Three Qatari royal jets said to have Elbit air defenses, including one that flew the emir to Iran last year; both Doha and Riyadh received advanced pilot helmets, night goggles
By ToI Staff
Illustrative image of now-dead Hamas head Yahya Sinwar at a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza City, April 15, 2023. (Atia Mohammed/Flash90)
June 15, 2026, 11:27 am
Hamas documents show Oct. 7 attack aimed at thwarting Israel-Saudi normalization
Kan reveals minutes from Gaza meetings in run-up to terror onslaught, recording then-chief Sinwar’s decision to launch ‘exceptional action’ to spoil regional rapprochement
By ToI Staff
A locomotive is exhibited outside the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
June 10, 2026, 11:41 am
Turkey, Saudi Arabia agree on major regional railway line bypassing Israel
Ankara touts deal that would curb Jerusalem’s influence, as lack of Israeli-Saudi normalization stalls progress on an India-Europe trade corridor passing through Jewish state
By Michael Bachner
US President Donald Trump (C) speaks during the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)
May 25, 2026, 2:59 am
Trump reportedly asked Muslim, Arab leaders to normalize ties with Israel if Iran deal reached
Request was met with silence on call with Middle Eastern leaders, Axios reports; it comes as Israeli officials said alarmed that emerging deal ‘does not serve Israel’s interest’
By ToI Staff, Stav Levaton and AFP
Illustrative: An intercepted projectile falls into the sea near Dubai's Palm Jumeirah archipelago on March 1, 2026. (FADEL SENNA / AFP)
March 5, 2026, 8:03 pm
Iran’s strikes on Arab states open door to new Gulf approach toward Israel
As Israel reportedly aids defense of US allies in region, pathways to new alliances could emerge. But shared threat of Iran hasn’t pushed Gulf states into Israel’s arms yet
By Nava Freiberg
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman walks to his seat after speaking during the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, November 19, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
February 8, 2026, 7:56 pm
Saudi source: Israel criticism not antisemitic, Netanyahu doesn’t want normalization
After ADL sounded alarm about shift in Saudi media coverage of Israel and Jews, royal family source insists to Kan that Riyadh has ‘no hostility,’ just issues with Israeli policy
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks at the Saudi-US Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
February 8, 2026, 1:53 pm
Relax, MBS isn’t aligning with Islamists. He also isn’t normalizing with Israel soon
Recent moves by Saudi Arabia against the UAE and toward Qatar and Turkey, along with a rise in antisemitism in the Saudi press, have alarmed many, but these processes are not new
By Lazar Berman
Rabbi Jacob Yisrael Herzog in Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, November 2021. (Courtesy)
December 25, 2025, 6:34 am
Self-appointed chief rabbi of Saudi Arabia says he was denied entry at border
Rabbi Jacob Herzog, who splits his time between Riyadh and Jerusalem, says he has a valid entry visa, received no explanation for the decision
By Grace Gilson
Saudi Arabia's former intelligence minister Prince Turki bin Faisal al-Saud attends the meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on March 30, 2017. (FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
December 22, 2025, 4:49 pm
Ex-Saudi intel chief to ToI: Riyadh will consider normalization when Israel acts normally
In very rare engagement with Israeli media, Prince Turki bin Faisal says kingdom won’t forge ties with Israel without ‘resolution to Palestinian issue entailing two-state solution’
By Jacob Magid
US President Donald Trump (right) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman watch F-35s and F-15s fly over during a welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, November 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)
December 7, 2025, 3:27 pm
Saudi F-35 sale triggers Israeli concern, though military edge may remain intact
Experts say Israel’s air superiority can withstand US sending advanced fighter jets to Riyadh, but worry deal puts normalization on ice and could trigger regional arms race
By Stav Levaton
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