In June, Saudi Arabia should co-chair a high-level conference to announce those pledges in New York together with France. The event’s goals further a two-state solution in which an independent, democratic Palestinian state is established next to Israel. Saudi Arabia now at the end of its patience wants more than just an unqualified condemnation from Israel for the deadly escalation in Gaza. The country unitedly called for a cessation of hostilities. The kingdom appears to be stepping up its diplomatic campaign to line up more Western nations behind its push for Palestinian statehood.
On Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is scheduled to visit the West Bank. He will be meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. This meeting is essential to Saudi Arabia’s strategy. It seeks to bolster the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate political representative of the Palestinian people—with an emphasis on “legitimate” given there are no viable alternatives to this day.
The trip to Ramallah is contingent on Israel’s say-so, which tightens Tel Aviv’s hold on access to the West Bank. With Prince Faisal, high-level diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, and several other countries are likely to participate in the talks.
Saudi Arabia’s drive for Palestinian statehood is underscored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent statements condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. He claimed that the Israeli government was committing genocide, a claim that Israel has officially denied.
In recent high-level communications with U.S. officials, Saudi Arabia laid its red line down unequivocally. It will refuse to normalize relations with Israel unless there is a clear roadmap to creating a Palestinian state and achieving lasting peace in Gaza. This position continues despite months of discussions regarding possible normalization and offers a lucrative defense treaty with the United States. Such a treaty would likely involve the development of a nuclear program in Saudi Arabia.
Over the years, Saudi leadership have interacted with Israel on multiple levels, including two past Saud kings visiting Jerusalem. King Saud visited it there in 1954 before King Faisal was received in 1966. Before the violent spiral since Hamas’ attack on October 7, normalization between the two countries seemed to be picking up steam. The public was optimistic and a step forward felt possible.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, an Israeli official stated that “Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.” This denial adds insult to an already inflammatory situation. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia is putting all its efforts into portraying itself as more and more active in defending Palestinian rights and statehood.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently called on the EU to act, emphasizing how urgent it is to address the ongoing conflict. He described the international response as “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.” President Macron touched on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. He cautioned that the growing might of the Israeli military presence directly imperils the viability of a future Palestinian state.
“What we are building over the coming weeks is obviously a political response to the crisis (in Gaza). And yes, it’s a necessity. Because today, over and above the current humanitarian tragedy, it is the very possibility of a Palestinian state that is being questioned.” – Emmanuel Macron
Saudi Arabia has vested interests in developing and deepening relations with its regional partners. That’s in addition to ongoing efforts with Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar. The kingdom’s overtures represent a welcome and long overdue strategic shift towards providing support for Palestinian governance with the intent of bolstering countervailing pressure on Israel.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been making a push for international recognition of Palestinian statehood. The planned meeting in Ramallah is another important indication of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to seek diplomatic off-ramps as regional tensions continue to rise.
