Saudi Arabia's de facto supreme leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), on Wednesday condemned the “crimes of the Israeli occupation” against the Palestinian people.
“The Palestinian issue is a top priority for Saudi Arabia and we reiterate the Kingdom's rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people, in disregard for international and humanitarian law. This is a new chapter of suffering,” he said. said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not cease its tireless efforts towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without it,” he declared.
“We thank those countries that have recognised the State of Palestine as an expression of international legitimacy and call on others to do the same,” he said.
The crown prince, known by his initials MBS, remarks In his annual address to the Saudi Arabian Consultative Assembly and more generally It is called Shura Council.
The Shura Council is a 150-member quasi-legislative body selected by the royal family from among scholars and experts in various fields. The council is technically only an advisory body to the king, who can dismiss any of its members or disband the entire council if he wishes, but reforms beginning in 2004 have given the council more responsibility.
Saudi Arabia's current King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is 88 years old and in frail health, so his 39-year-old successor, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz, has delivered the annual King's Council address on his behalf for the past few years. Council members formally pledge allegiance to the monarchy at the end of the annual King's Address.
MBS's comments were not unexpected, given the political and religious dimensions of the war between Hamas and Israel.
Former President Donald Trump Mediated The September 2020 Abraham Accords, in which Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) normalized ties with Israel and there were hopes Saudi Arabia would join, appeared to break a longstanding stalemate in the Middle East in which Arab countries would never recognize Israel until it handed over territory to a Palestinian state.
Some other states Participated The Abraham Accords targeted countries such as Sudan, Morocco and Kosovo, but the big one – Saudi Arabia – remains unattained. The Biden administration has allowed the agreement to wither away, as it seems determined to return to Barack Obama's strangely pro-Iranian foreign policy and does not want to take credit for changing the political landscape in the Middle East. President Joe Biden has made a point of viewing MBS as a personal enemy, worsening US-Saudi relations.
Just two weeks before Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, MBS said His country is moving toward normalization with Israel. “We're getting closer every day,” he said.
MBS also insisted then that “the Palestinian issue is very important,” but in less firm terms than he did Wednesday.
“We need to wait and see where it goes. I hope that life becomes easier for Palestinians and that Israel plays a key role in the Middle East,” he said.
MBS built a reputation as a bold reformer, even as critics accused him of authoritarianism and repression. Advertised In his speech to the Shura Council, he touted the results of reforms, including progress on plans to diversify the Saudi Arabian economy away from its total reliance on oil.
These calls for reform and progress came shortly before the crown prince called for the establishment of a Palestinian state and opposed normalization with Israel.
The Biden administration had downplayed progress toward normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations before the Oct. 7 attack but has sought in recent days to raise hopes that a deal could be reached before Biden formally leaves office.
“If we achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, I think there will still be an opportunity for what's left of the administration to move forward with normalization,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. said During a visit to Haiti on September 6th.
Blinken also said normalization requires a “credible path to peace in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Blinken's comments on Wednesday suggested the Saudi chief will insist on reaching the end of the “credible path” before striking a deal, meaning no deal can be reached with Joe Biden nominally in the White House.
