Saudi Arabia and Israel, one step closer to normalizing relations
According to a report, the Saudis gave up the demand for explicit recognition of a Palestinian state by the Israelis. The United States is acting as mediator.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are close to normalizing relations after a major breakthrough was reached in negotiations between the two countries, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
Previously, the Saudis demanded from Israel an explicit recognition of a Palestinian state in order to reach an agreement on normalization of relations. However, according to sources consulted by Haaretz, both sides agreed that Jerusalem would offer Riyadh a commitment to a "path toward a Palestinian state."
Haaretz indicated that the negotiations, which had been ongoing in recent weeks, were accelerated after Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah reached an agreement of ceasefire late last November.
The Israeli media added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in charge of negotiating with the Saudis through his Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
The United States, for its part, acts as mediator and guarantor. It is a coordinated work between the Biden Administration and President-elect Donald Trump.
An agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia would facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and end the war
Such an agreement between the two countries would facilitate the release of hostages by the Hamas terrorist group and end Israel's war with Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, the Jewish State media outlet indicated.
This is because Riyadh seeks to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza, while Jerusalem is interested in Western-allied Arab countries doing so as well, and Saudi money flowing into the region after the war, Haaretz added.
LATEST
