In a recent conversation between Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and the office of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel made clear it is not prepared to move forward with the Palestinian Authority. Riyadh views this as a capitulation to coalition pressures in Jerusalem and has put the possibility of normalization on hold.
Before October 7, Saudi Arabia was on the verge of signing a normalization agreement with Israel, close to joining the Abraham Accords. Today, as the Jewish New Year approaches, the kingdom is spearheading an international initiative with France to recognize a Palestinian state, while normalization with Israel has faded into the distance. This shift is a major diplomatic achievements of Hamas and Iran.
The change in Saudi Arabia's position has several causes, but the final trigger appears to have been Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's call with the crown prince's office, which took place a few weeks ago after the collapse of the Doha talks, according to American and Arab diplomatic sources.
The discussion touched on Iran following the 12-day war, Israeli-Syrian contacts, and the situation in Lebanon, but its focus was Gaza. Riyadh asked what Israel's strategy was for ending the war and for the day after. Dermer stressed that Israel was determined to defeat Hamas and ensure it could never reemerge. He dismissed proposals to discuss who would govern Gaza after the war, saying Israel opposed any role for the Palestinian Authority. (Read More)
