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normalization with Saudi Arabia

President Isaac Herzog in an interview that aired on the Al Arabiya network on July 16, 2026. (Screenshot/Al Arabiya)
July 17, 2026, 2:36 am
Herzog tells Saudi TV he dreams of peace with Riyadh, ‘heart aches’ for innocent Gazans
In rare interview with state-owned outlet, president says Jerusalem also wants normalization with Syria and Lebanon, and that he respects Trump and Vance’s efforts to curb Iran
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
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
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
(L to R) US State Department Counselor Michael Needham, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanon's Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter stand together before meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, on April 14, 2026. (Oliver Contreras / AFP)
April 23, 2026, 9:03 pm
Israel is drawing closer to the Middle East — while the West turns a cold shoulder
Israel is in the strange position of holding talks with bitter foes like Lebanon and Syria, while old friends in Europe are pushing to loosen ties
By Ben Sales
ToI diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman (ToI)
February 13, 2026, 9:06 am
Lazar Berman: Are Saudis moving away from Israel and toward Islamists?
Normalization with Riyadh was seen as inevitable. Now analysts are alarmed by MBS’s cozying up to Turkey and Qatar and attacking the UAE, and antisemitism in Saudi media
By Lazar Berman
Then-president Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, in the Oval Office, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
January 28, 2026, 1:23 pm
Daily Briefing Jan. 28 – PM makes explosive charges on Biden-era arms embargo
Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman reports on a rare, wide-ranging press conference held by the premier, noting Israel’s two remaining goals for Gaza and chances of Saudi normalization
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Lazar Berman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference in Jerusalem on January 27, 2026. (Screenshot/GPO)
January 28, 2026, 1:53 am
Netanyahu: If Saudis want deal, we expect them not to align with anti-Israel forces
As MBS cozies up to Turkey and Qatar and turns away from UAE, PM says he is following realignment closely and accuses Riyadh of ‘nurturing all kinds of forces that attack Israel’
By Lazar Berman
Illustrative: Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
December 23, 2025, 1:17 pm
Daily Briefing Dec. 23: Day 809 – Saudi prince tells ToI Israel needs to start being ‘normal’
US bureau chief Jacob Magid on his interview with Prince Turki bin Faisal, US Ambassador Huckabee’s rare meetup with the PA, and why US Vice President Vance feels Americans aren’t antisemitic
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Jacob Magid
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
(From L) CEO and President of the International Crisis Group Comfort Ero, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Saudi Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs's minister plenipotentiary Manal Radwan attend the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Mahmud HAMS / AFP)
December 7, 2025, 1:53 pm
Daily Briefing Dec. 7: Day 793 – Trump peace plan partners pile on Israel at Doha Forum
US bureau chief Jacob Magid reports from Qatar on allegations that Israel violates the Gaza ceasefire daily, and a glimpse into the Saudi normalization deal that wasn’t
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Jacob Magid
Screen capture from video of Saudi Cabinet member of the Minister of Foreign Affairs's Manal Radwan, attending the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (YouTube)
December 7, 2025, 11:09 am
Senior Saudi diplomat: It’s Israel, not PA, that most needs reform to secure peace
Manal Radwan says Palestinian Authority is already working on reforms, but Israeli government opposes two-state solution, incites against Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims
By Jacob Magid
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his week-long trip aimed at calming tensions across the Middle East, in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP)
December 5, 2025, 3:31 pm
ToI reveals: US and Saudis reached understandings on Palestinian component of normalization before Oct. 7
On eve of Hamas attack, Blinken was scheduled to visit Israel to discuss document compiled with Riyadh that detailed relatively minor concessions PM would have to make to Palestinians
By Jacob Magid
US President Donald Trump (right) meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 18, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)
December 1, 2025, 2:51 am
As Trump and Saudi prince heat up ties, Israel normalization left out in the cold
MBS notched important gains in Washington, rehabilitating Riyadh after it was sidelined by Israel and Qatar and likely stiffening the kingdom’s price for joining the Abraham Accords
By Lazar Berman
US President Donald Trump (right) meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 18, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)
November 26, 2025, 4:03 am
Saudi crown prince’s pushback on Israel normalization reportedly irked Trump
Israeli TV report says US president was ‘disappointed and angry’ after MBS cited domestic opposition to normalizing ties with Jewish state
By Nava Freiberg
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