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JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza without a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s comments in an interview with CNN broadcast late Sunday were some of the most direct comments yet from Saudi officials. This puts him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has Palestinian statehood rejected and described plans for open military control of Gaza.
First The Hamas attack on October 7 that sparked the warThe US was trying to broker a historic agreement in which Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for US security guarantees, assistance in establishing a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom, and progress toward resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
In September, Netanyahu had said that Israel “On the turn” About a deal that he said would transform the Middle East.
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In an interview with “CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS”, the host asked: “Are you saying clearly that if there is no credible and irreversible path to a Palestinian state, then relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel will not be normal? ?”
Prince Faisal replied, “That’s the only way we’ll benefit.” “So yes.”
“As long as we’re able to find a solution, a resolution, a path forward that means we won’t be here again in a year or two, we can talk about anything,” he said. “But if we are resetting the status quo before October 7 in a way that prepares us for another round of this, as we have seen in the past, then we are not interested in that conversation.”
Palestinians seek a state that includes Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
Israel views all of Jerusalem as its capital and the West Bank as the historical and biblical heartland of the Jewish people. it has been created Hundreds of settlements in both areas Which is home to hundreds of thousands of Jewish residents. The last of several rounds of peace talks broke down about 15 years ago.
More than 25,000 people died in Gaza
The current war between Israel and Hamas, the fifth and deadliest so far, began when Palestinian militants breached Israel’s defenses and ransacked several nearby communities, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, About 250 people were taken hostage and the Israelis’ sense of security was broken. ,
According to Israel’s attack, at least 25,105 Palestinians in Gaza were killed and more than 60,000 were injured. Ministry of Health in Hamas-ruled areas, The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says about two-thirds of those killed were women and children.
The Israeli military says it has killed about 9,000 militants without providing evidence, and blames Hamas for high civilian deaths because it deploys fighters, tunnels and other terrorist infrastructure in dense residential areas.
there has also been a war Tension spread throughout the areaThe risk of wider conflict has increased with attacks by Iran-backed groups on Israeli and US targets in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Pressure on Netanyahu is increasing from all sides
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until a “complete victory” over Hamas and to return all remaining hostages in exchange for the many Palestinians imprisoned by Israel after it released more than 100 hostages in a November ceasefire agreement.
It is believed that Hamas keeps hostages in underground tunnels and uses them as shields for its top leaders. Hamas says Israel has successfully rescued only one hostage many people have died in Israeli air strikes or during failed rescue operations.
Families of the hostages and other protesters have set up a tent camp outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem and have vowed to remain there until a deal is reached with Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home. Other protests have called for new elections.
Netanyahu has ruled out another ceasefire and exchanges, saying military pressure is vital to freeing the detainees. Hamas has said it will release more detainees only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
The long-serving prime minister, whose popularity has plunged since Oct. 7, faces pressure from the US – Israel’s top ally – to shift to more precise military operations, facilitate humanitarian aid and more. To undertake and adopt post-war plans with widespread support throughout the region.
But Netanyahu’s ruling coalition is beholden to far-right parties that want to take aggressive steps, encourage “voluntary” emigration of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, and re-establish Jewish settlements there.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip.
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