Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

No normalization with 'Israel' before Gaza ceasefire: Saudi amb. to US

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Jan 2024 23:55
4 Min Read

The condition of a ceasefire in Gaza is the only obstacle that lies ahead of a potential normalization agreement, the diplomat said.

  • x
  • Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US. (SPA file photo)
    Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US (SPA file photo)

The Saudi Ambassador to Washington, Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, stated on Thursday that her country is unable to pursue discussions regarding a potential normalization agreement with the Israeli regime before a ceasefire in Gaza comes into force.

"While there is violence on the ground and the killing persists, we cannot talk about the next day," she said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

It is worth noting that the Biden administration has been exerting pressure on Saudi Arabia to push for a normalization deal. In return, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is granted conditions for its completion, including "obtaining security guarantees from Washington and assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program."

As for the escalating tensions in the region and Saudi Arabia's fear of conflict expansion, the ambassador expressed "deep concern" about the escalation that could bring the region "back to the Stone Age," as she said.

During the forum, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stated that Riyadh remains "certainly" open to the possibility of establishing future relations with "Israel." However, he emphasized the "need for a ceasefire and the establishment of a Palestinian state" before such relations can be considered.

He pointed out the absence of any real signs of approaching the "strategic goal" demanded by "Israel."

Other statements about possible Saudi-Israeli normalisation at Davos

Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated on Thursday at the World Economic Forum's annual conference in the Swiss town of Davos that normalizing relations between "Israel" and Saudi Arabia would be a crucial step toward ending "the conflict with Hamas" and a "game-changer" for the entire Middle East.

Related News

At least 2 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

Netanyahu's statements confirm intentional obstruction of truce: Hamas

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister stated on Tuesday at Davos that the country may recognize the Israeli regime if a comprehensive peace was reached that included statehood for the Palestinians.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated in front of a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, "We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state."

In response to the question of whether Saudi Arabia will then recognize "Israel" as a component of a larger political deal, he replied, "Certainly."

"Something we have been working on with the U.S. administration, and it is more relevant in the context of Gaza," stated Prince Faisal, regarding establishing a Palestinian state as a means of achieving regional peace.

Read more: Moroccan petition calls for annulling normalization deal with 'Israel'

For years, Saudi Arabia has been actively seeking to acquire nuclear technology from the US, but the latter has been reluctant to fulfill these demands.

Washington reportedly offered to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear program on the condition that they normalize relations with "Israel."

Whether the US truly intends to provide Saudi Arabia with the desired technology if they normalize relations with "Israel" is up to debate, especially after the Saudi Kingdom restored diplomatic relations with Iran and shifted closer to China in 2023. 

On January 9, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UK said that a normalization agreement was on the verge of completion when the kingdom suspended US-brokered talks after the Palestinian resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. 

Yesterday, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan outlined four key principles guiding US considerations for a political resolution post-war: preventing Gaza from being a source of "terror attacks on Israel", completing normalization agreements between "Israel" and neighboring Arab countries, establishing a Palestinian state, and providing security assurances for "Israel".

Read more: MBS signals willingness for normalization with 'Israel': Blinken

  • genocide in Gaza
  • war on Gaza
  • Washington
  • Normalizing ties with Israel
  • Saudi Arabia
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS