⭕️ Saudi Arabia sets strict terms for Israel ties ahead of Trump meeting – The Cradle

 ⭕️ Saudi Arabia sets strict terms for Israel ties ahead of Trump meeting

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) will visit Washington on 18 November to finalize a scaled-down defense pact but insists normalization with Israel remains off the table without a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.

Saudi officials told Reuters that Riyadh’s position has not changed despite Trump’s push to expand the Abraham Accords.

The crown prince seeks “explicit and vocal” US backing for Palestinian sovereignty and wants guarantees that Israel withdraw from Gaza and restore the Palestinian Authority’s role there.

The upcoming visit — MbS’s first since the Khashoggi murder — will focus on military cooperation and arms sales rather than recognition of Israel. The new agreement mirrors a non-binding US-Qatar arrangement, granting defense cooperation and fast-tracking weapons sales but stopping short of a full treaty.

Analysts say Riyadh is separating its security agenda from normalization efforts as Iran’s regional influence weakens and Washington pressures the kingdom to curb ties with China.

READ FULL ARTICLE: This article originally appeared on The Cradle

Share on Telegram