By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
RIYADH/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Saudi Arabia has softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that “a public commitment” from Israel to a two-state solution “could be enough” for the Gulf kingdom to normalize relations with the Jewish nation, according to Saudi and Western officials.
In remarks Friday, the officials also announced that Riyadh abandoned its pursuit of an “ambitious defense treaty” with Washington and sought “a more modest military cooperation agreement” in return for regular ties with Israel.
According to Western diplomats familiar with his thinking, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views normalization with Saudi Arabia as a historical milestone and a sign of broader acceptance in the Arab world.
But he faces opposition at home to any concessions to Palestinians in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that killed some 1,200 people.
And with public anger in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East mounting over Israel’s strikes against Hamas in Gaza, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has again made recognition of Israel conditional on it taking concrete steps to create a Palestinian state.
Yet, with U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump soon becoming dealmaker-in-chief, Riyadh and Washington hope a more modest defense pact could be sealed before Joe Biden leaves the White House on January 20.
A full-blown U.S.-Saudi treaty would need to pass the U.S. Senate with a two-thirds majority, and this would be a non-starter unless Riyadh recognizes Israel, several sources said.
However, Trump has made it clear that he wants to extend the Abraham Accords, which already include agreements on Arab–Israeli normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain, on September 15, 2020.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will take up a closely watched case involving religious liberty and government funding, agreeing to hear a dispute over Colorado’s universal preschool program and its exclusion of a Catholic school.
President Donald Trump announced April 17 that his administration is preparing to release long-awaited government documents related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unexplained aerial phenomena, signaling a renewed push for transparency on one of the most debated mysteries in modern history.
Israel entered one of its most solemn national observances Monday evening as sirens sounded across the country, marking the beginning of Memorial Day with a unified moment of silence to honor fallen soldiers and victims of terror.
President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is unlikely to extend its current ceasefire with Iran if a comprehensive peace deal is not reached before the looming April 22 deadline, intensifying global attention on high-stakes negotiations set to resume this week.
British police on Monday confirmed the detention of two teenagers over an arson attack on a synagogue in London, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community, as investigators examine possible links to Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly condemned the actions of an Israeli soldier who vandalized a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon, calling the incident “stunning” and “deeply saddening” to both himself and the overwhelming majority of Israelis.
The U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has redeployed to the Middle East following weeks of repairs after a fire aboard the vessel, according to Pentagon-linked reports and defense officials.