"If Israel accepts the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia could discuss normalizing relations."

Saudi Arabian Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former head of Saudi intelligence, warned that there would be no normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established.

Saudi Arabian Prince Turki Al-Faisal speaking at the London-based think tank Chatham House on September 14. (Source: Chatham House)

According to Saudi Arabia's Arab News , in a speech at the London-based think tank Chatham House on September 14, Turki assessed the role of the United States in the peace process between Saudi Arabia and Israel, amidst the increasingly complex situation of the nearly year-long war in the Gaza Strip.

Turki stated that Washington wants to resume negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia to enhance regional security and establish economic relations. However, Riyadh's position is that "if Israel accepts the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia can discuss normalizing relations with Israel."

Turki's statement included the following: "Before October 7, 2023, the negotiations were making progress. Saudi Arabia even invited a Palestinian delegation to discuss directly with the Americans what could be achieved for a Palestinian state. Unfortunately, the Gaza conflict brought those negotiations to an end."

Prince Turki emphasized that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is important not only for Israel-Saudi Arabia relations but also for the rest of the Muslim world .

He said: "A Palestinian state is a prerequisite for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, but on the Israeli side, the entire government says there is no Palestinian state."

According to Turki, Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with its 1981 Peace Plan and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

Regarding the Gaza war, Turki criticized the US and other Western countries for not putting more pressure on Israel to end the conflict.

He emphasized: "The U.S. has many tools to influence Israel that they are not using, and it's not simply a matter of refusing to supply Israel with weapons and materials."

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