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
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is moving toward a standalone renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, setting up a sharp Republican divide with President Donald Trump, who has demanded that any FISA extension be paired with his election integrity legislation.
U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israel’s handling of its campaign against Hezbollah on Tuesday, saying Syria should take a larger role in confronting the Iran-backed terror group if Israel cannot do the job without causing broader destruction.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the emerging agreement between Washington and Tehran has been “successful” and is now moving into a “second stage,” while warning that Iran will never be permitted to obtain nuclear weapons.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned senior U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, that American intelligence had gathered evidence raising serious doubts about Iran’s willingness to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program, according to an Axios report citing three sources familiar with the matter.
Vice President JD Vance on Monday denied that American taxpayers would finance a reported $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, saying any such assistance would come from Gulf nations and only if Tehran fulfills strict commitments to end its nuclear weapons ambitions.
Major League Baseball has warned several San Francisco Giants players after they wrote Bible verse references on their hats during the team’s recent Pride Night, according to The Athletic.
Federal agents have disrupted a chilling alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250, held Sunday night on the White House South Lawn — coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday weekend. As of Monday, five individuals were in custody, with 23 people identified as part of a broader suspected network.