No Ties with Israel Without an Independent Palestine: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has made it clear that until an independent Palestinian state is created, it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump promised to assist Saudi Arabia in developing its nuclear energy program, but only provided the country recognized Israel as a state. Riyadh immediately dismissed this offer.

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump sent a document to Congress on diplomatic nuclear cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but he included a strict condition. According to the U.S. administration, the nuclear support deal won’t be executed until Saudi Arabia and Israel have formal diplomatic ties. The two countries’ energy ministers signed a significant deal on this issue last month. Saudi officials, however, took a tough stand in response to the growing outrage around America’s new condition.

Riyadh will never modify its position on the Israel problem, according to a senior Saudi official. Shaking hands with Israel is impossible without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders. Saudi Arabia added that accepting nuclear support from the United States is a diplomatic, economic, and strategic issue and that it is completely unsuitable to tie it to Israel’s recognition.

Source: Middle East Monitor