Saudi Arabia Sets Pre-Conditions for Israel Normalisation Ahead of Trump Visit
Riyadh insists on a credible Palestinian state roadmap before formal diplomatic ties with Israel can proceed
Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its long-standing condition that recognition of the State of Israel must be tied to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, ahead of a scheduled meeting in Washington on November 18 between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and U.S. President Donald Trump.
While the United States is pressing for Riyadh to join the Abraham Accord process, two Gulf sources told Reuters the kingdom has made clear that any normalisation must be part of a broader framework rather than simply an extension of existing deals.
President Trump has publicly expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia will soon normalise ties with Israel, stating on November 5 that he expects “a lot of people joining now the Abraham Accords, and hopefully we’re going to get Saudi Arabia very soon.” However, Saudi diplomatic channels have conveyed to Washington that the kingdom will not proceed without an agreed-upon roadmap to Palestinian statehood, and that it views substantive progress on that issue as a precursor to any formal Israeli links.
One Gulf source said the Crown Prince “is not likely to entertain any possible formalising of ties in the near future without at least a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.” Analysts believe MbS may use his upcoming U.S. visit to secure more explicit American endorsement for Palestinian statehood, thereby strengthening Saudi bargaining power in regional diplomacy.
In parallel, Riyadh and Washington are set to finalise a defence cooperation pact during the upcoming visit, though sources indicate it will fall short of the comprehensive, Congress-ratified treaty Riyadh originally sought.
Rather, the deal is expected to deepen U.S.-Saudi military collaboration and advanced technology sharing while preserving the kingdom’s strategic autonomy.
The signalling from Saudi Arabia underscores its position as a regional power carefully managing ties with both Washington and the Middle East peace process.
While the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco have already normalised relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia is maintaining a higher bar linked to Palestinian rights and its regional legacy.
The November meeting thus represents a test of how far the kingdom will align with U.S. ambitions while retaining its conditions and strategic interests.
With major defence and investment dimensions on the table, the dynamics between Riyadh, Washington and Jerusalem remain highly fluid.
For Saudi Arabia, the calculus is clear: any accord with Israel must advance national security, uphold Palestinian goals and protect the kingdom’s regional stance—conditions that continue to shape the path and timing of normalisation.
While the United States is pressing for Riyadh to join the Abraham Accord process, two Gulf sources told Reuters the kingdom has made clear that any normalisation must be part of a broader framework rather than simply an extension of existing deals.
President Trump has publicly expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia will soon normalise ties with Israel, stating on November 5 that he expects “a lot of people joining now the Abraham Accords, and hopefully we’re going to get Saudi Arabia very soon.” However, Saudi diplomatic channels have conveyed to Washington that the kingdom will not proceed without an agreed-upon roadmap to Palestinian statehood, and that it views substantive progress on that issue as a precursor to any formal Israeli links.
One Gulf source said the Crown Prince “is not likely to entertain any possible formalising of ties in the near future without at least a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.” Analysts believe MbS may use his upcoming U.S. visit to secure more explicit American endorsement for Palestinian statehood, thereby strengthening Saudi bargaining power in regional diplomacy.
In parallel, Riyadh and Washington are set to finalise a defence cooperation pact during the upcoming visit, though sources indicate it will fall short of the comprehensive, Congress-ratified treaty Riyadh originally sought.
Rather, the deal is expected to deepen U.S.-Saudi military collaboration and advanced technology sharing while preserving the kingdom’s strategic autonomy.
The signalling from Saudi Arabia underscores its position as a regional power carefully managing ties with both Washington and the Middle East peace process.
While the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco have already normalised relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia is maintaining a higher bar linked to Palestinian rights and its regional legacy.
The November meeting thus represents a test of how far the kingdom will align with U.S. ambitions while retaining its conditions and strategic interests.
With major defence and investment dimensions on the table, the dynamics between Riyadh, Washington and Jerusalem remain highly fluid.
For Saudi Arabia, the calculus is clear: any accord with Israel must advance national security, uphold Palestinian goals and protect the kingdom’s regional stance—conditions that continue to shape the path and timing of normalisation.
