Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal: Normalization with Israel Tied to Palestinian Statehood

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi intelligence, has declared that Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel until a sovereign Palestinian state is established. He emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state is a fundamental prerequisite for Saudi Arabia to consider any form of rapprochement with Israel.

Speaking at a think tank event, Prince Turki Al-Faisal noted that the United States is advocating for economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel but reiterated that progress on this front is contingent upon Israel’s acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood.

“The Saudi stance has been clear: we will not negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians; they must advocate for themselves. The Israeli government has been unequivocal in its denial of a Palestinian state,” said Prince Turki.

He also mentioned that prior to the October 7 attacks, Saudi Arabia had invited a Palestinian delegation to engage in direct talks with American officials about the establishment of a Palestinian state. These discussions were unfortunately derailed by the attacks.

Prince Turki underscored that the establishment of a Palestinian state is vital not just for Saudi Arabia but for the entire Muslim world in fostering meaningful relations with Israel. He noted that the new British government was the only one to have suspended some arms export licenses to Israel, reflecting a rare instance of international response to the ongoing situation.