Saudi Arabia wants peace with Israel after Gaza war, envoy tells BBC
Saudi Arabian ambassador to the UK said to the BBC on Tuesday that his country is interested in normalization with Israel after the war, with one condition – the creation of a Palestinian State.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JANUARY 9, 2024 17:54
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, June 7, 2023.(photo credit: BANDAR ALGALOUD/COURTESY OF SAUDI ROYAL COURT/REUTERS)
Saudi Arabia is interested in normalization with Israel following the conclusion of the IDF’s war on Hamas in Gaza, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday.
However, the envoy said, Saudi Arabia had one condition – the creation of a Palestinian State.
According to the ambassador, prior to the October 7 massacre, both countries were close to reaching an agreement.
The basis for Saudi Arabian normalization agreement
He explained, “For us, the final endpoint definitely included nothing less than an independent state of Palestine. So, while we still – going forward after 7 October – believe in normalization, it does not come at the cost of the Palestinian people,” adding as a final note, “One doesn’t come without the other.”
The ambassador voiced his disapproval at the reaction of the international community to the situation in Gaza, saying its efforts at ending the fighting and sending humanitarian aid to the Strip were insufficient.
With regard to the UK, Prince Khalid stated it should “treat Israel the same way it treats everyone else.” “The blind spot towards Israel is a real problem because it provides a blind spot to peace,” he continued.
In November, despite reports that Saudi Arabia had desisted from any normalization plan due to the war, the White House confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was still committed to a normalization deal.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this article.
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