Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will not recognize Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In a speech to the Shura Council on behalf of King Salman, MbS condemned the "crimes of the Israeli occupation" against Palestinians and emphasized the kingdom's commitment to Palestinian statehood.
The statement comes after the normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel, brokered by the U.S., were put on hold following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October.
MbS had indicated just weeks before the conflict that negotiations were progressing, but sources revealed that the fighting shifted Saudi Arabia's diplomatic focus, delaying the talks. Despite the delay, MbS remains committed to a resolution that includes a Palestinian state before normalizing relations with Israel.