Saudi Arabia has reiterated that it would not normalise relations with Israel without western recognition of an independent Palestinian state, in an apparent warning to the US against overselling the prospect of the kingdom forging diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
Two days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Riyadh, the foreign ministry said the kingdom had “been steadfast on the Palestinian issue and the necessity that the brotherly Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights”.
The ministry said it was releasing the statement in the wake of the talks between Prince Mohammed and Blinken on the Arab-Israeli peace process, and comments made by the US national security spokesperson.