Palestinian state is the only obstacle to Saudi-Israel ties: Prince Turki

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state remains a fundamental condition for any normalisation of ties with Israel, according to recent remarks made by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ambassador to the United States.

Speaking at a think tank Chatham House event, Prince Turki outlined Riyadh's consistent stance on the issue, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts between Israel and Palestinian groups, including the ongoing Gaza war, Arab News reported.

While there have been efforts, notably by the United States, to facilitate normalisation talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Prince Turki emphasised that these discussions hinge on a viable solution for the Palestinians. He suggested that any resumption of talks would require Israel’s recognition of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem as its capital. This condition, he noted, is not only crucial for Saudi-Israeli ties but for broader relations between Israel and the Muslim world.

The former ambassador highlighted that prior to the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, there had been positive momentum, with Saudi Arabia inviting Palestinian representatives to engage in direct talks with the US.

However, the escalation of violence, particularly with Hamas’s attack on Israel, halted these discussions. He underscored that Saudi Arabia has maintained a long-standing position of allowing Palestinians to represent their own interests in negotiations.

Prince Turki pointed to Saudi Arabia’s historical efforts in promoting peace in the region, recalling initiatives such as the 1981 King Fahd Peace Plan and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. These proposals, he argued, illustrate the Kingdom's leading role in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Furthermore, in the current context, the Kingdom has been at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Gaza, convening summits with both Arab and broader Muslim countries, and launching diplomatic missions aimed at convincing the international community to push for a ceasefire.

Criticism was also directed at Western nations, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, for their perceived lack of pressure on Israel to halt its military operations. Prince Turki argued that the US holds considerable influence over Israel, with tools ranging from the supply of military equipment to the regulation of financial contributions made by pro-Israel lobbyists.

He suggested that the US could exert greater pressure by curtailing financial privileges enjoyed by groups supporting Israel, especially those that benefit from tax-exempt status in the United States.

The UK was also called out for its relatively slow response to the conflict, particularly in the realm of arms exports. Prince Turki called for greater action, urging Western nations to recognise the state of Palestine and take more definitive steps to end the conflict.

He expressed scepticism, however, about the likelihood of Washington taking stronger measures, given the close ties between Israel and various influential lobbying groups in the US.