Why Solving the Palestinian Issue is Vital for Saudi Arabia in Relations with Israel

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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, has emphasized the significance of Palestinians in potential negotiations to normalize relations with Israel, as the two countries move closer to an unprecedented agreement.

In his first American TV interview since 2019, Prince Mohammed revealed that progress was being made in talks between the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia towards normalization, but the future of Palestine remains a crucial point of contention.

“For us, the Palestinian issue is of utmost importance. We need to address that aspect,” he stated in an excerpt from an interview with Fox News’ Special Report released on Wednesday. “We hope to reach a point where the lives of Palestinians improve, and Israel becomes an active player in the Middle East.”

The crown prince, who is the son of the Saudi king and holds significant power in the country, dismissed reports suggesting that Riyadh had withdrawn from the discussions.

“We are getting closer every day,” he affirmed.

Mohammed’s comments come after several months of negotiations led by the White House, which is striving to publicly acknowledge the tacit relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, thus putting an end to decades of tension that have plagued Middle Eastern politics and troubled successive US presidents.

Under the proposed agreement, Washington and Riyadh would establish a defense pact, with Washington offering civil nuclear cooperation to the kingdom, while Israel would make concessions to support the Palestinians’ quest for statehood.

Regarding a potential defense pact with the US, Prince Mohammed expressed that it would be more convenient for Saudi Arabia to maintain its defense spending with its current arms suppliers.

“We have strong security and military ties, which strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position in the Middle East and America’s global standing, particularly in the Middle East. We wouldn’t want to alter that,” he explained.

The crown prince also issued a warning to the US concerning Iran, asserting that Riyadh would acquire its own warhead if Tehran were to possess a nuclear weapon.

“If they acquire one, we will acquire one,” he stated.

Mohammed’s statement might face opposition in the US Congress, which must approve the nuclear cooperation segment of any agreement between Washington and Riyadh.

The crown prince also refuted allegations that the kingdom was aiding Russia in its actions in Ukraine by cutting its crude supply to drive up prices. Crude prices have recently exceeded $100 per barrel, raising concerns among consumer countries.

Last year, the White House claimed that Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ countries were aligning with Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, while Western nations imposed sanctions aimed at depriving President Vladimir Putin of oil revenue for his war chest.

“This is purely a matter of supply and demand,” Prince Mohammed stated in response to decisions to reduce production. He also highlighted that Saudi Arabia had voted in the United Nations to condemn Russia’s invasion last year.

Talks between Israel, the US, and Saudi Arabia gained momentum over the summer, and President Joe Biden met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations meeting in New York on Wednesday to discuss the initiative.

Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity and positive comments from all parties involved, the success of the project remains uncertain.

Reaching an agreement on Saudi security and nuclear demands will prove challenging for the US and will require the approval of a skeptical Congress. Furthermore, Israel may be hesitant to make the concessions sought by Riyadh on behalf of the Palestinians.

Alongside the normalization effort, the US has also sought to revive diplomacy with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Earlier this week, the two nations exchanged prisoners as a confidence-building measure, with hopes that it could eventually pave the way for discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities and other related matters.