In a recent Financial Times op-ed, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud made a forceful call for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating Middle Eastern conflict. He emphasized that “the relentless cycle of violence must end” and called for courageous leadership to navigate the difficult path toward a lasting peace.
His remarks reflect a growing urgency in the Saudi position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, underscored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s earlier statements that placed the Palestinian issue at the forefront of Saudi concerns and strongly condemned Israel’s actions.
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Saudi Arabia’s Firm Conditions for Normalization
Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue remains unyielding: it will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is progress towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
This stance is a significant setback for U.S. diplomatic efforts, particularly as President Joe Biden’s administration has invested heavily in brokering a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. With the U.S. elections just around the corner, the escalating conflict leaves Biden’s legacy in the region tarnished, as violence surges and the hope of Saudi-Israeli normalization seems distant.
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In his op-ed, Prince Faisal reiterated that “the establishment of an independent Palestinian........