Two senior regional sources informed Reuters that Saudi officials have told their US counterparts that Riyadh is willing, in exchange for normalization with "Israel", to accept "a political commitment from Israel towards a two-state solution" without having the occupation take any concrete steps. 

This was done in a bid to get a defense pact with Washington approved before the US presidential elections.

One of the senior regional sources stated that "normalization does require really - if not legally, at least politically - a commitment from the Israelis that they are open to a two-state solution."

"If Israel stopped its military offensive on Gaza - or at least declared a ceasefire - it would make it easier for Saudi Arabia to go ahead with the deal," they added.

This follows the failure of the months of US-led diplomacy attempting to get Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with "Israel" in October due to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. However, according to two regional sources, Saudi Arabia is increasingly keen on enhancing its security and "fighting Iran" so it can transform its economy and attract huge foreign investment.

Severe changes in Middle East

According to Reuters, If the pact between Saudi Arabia and the US takes place in which the latter provides "military protection" for the former in exchange for normalization with "Israel", the Middle East would go through severe changes, especially in light of China making inroads in the region. This normalization will also aid the occupation in its continued aggression in the region and give Joe Biden a "diplomatic victory" before the upcoming US elections. 

One of the regional sources stated that the Saudi officials have privately urged Washington to press "Israel" to end its genocide in Gaza and commit to a "political horizon for a Palestinian state," saying that this would push Riyadh to normalize relations with the occupation and help fund Gaza's reconstruction.
 
The head of the Gulf Research Center think-tank in Jeddah, Abelaziz al-Sagher, commented saying, "The message from the kingdom to America has been: 'Stop the war first, allow humanitarian aid, and commit to a just and lasting solution to give the Palestinians a state...Without it, Saudi Arabia can't do anything."

He also explained that his country and other Arab countries have urged the US Secretary of State and other visiting officials that without any serious US pressure on "Israel," the latter wouldn't succumb to a "Palestinian state."

The regional sources also added that Saudi officials have not stated exactly what an "acceptable "pathway to a Palestinian state" would involve,  hence they can strike a deal with "Israel" without it involving any binding moves, according to Reuters. In addition, there has been no attempt to revive the previously known and famous Saudi Arabia deal offering normalization of all Arab countries with "Israel" in return for the liberation of the 1967 occupied Palestinian territories.

Related News

US, China to resume talks in Madrid; tariffs, TikTok on agenda

China warns Philippines against provocations in South China Sea

The Saudi government office did not comment on these statements. 

Deal while Democrats in control

Saudi Arabia is aiming towards making a deal with the US while the Democrats are still in the White House and control of the Senate as well as their "growing concern with Iran," according to Reuters.

This is triggered by the fact that Biden is showing more openness to an agreement through Congress with Riyadh, which differs from the latter's experience with old Democrats. In those experiences, Democratic lawmakers have resisted any pacts with Riyadh, denouncing it for its war on Yemen, for propping up oil prices, and its role in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Washington and Riyadh talks were in progress regarding the US-Saudi elements of the normalization deal including nuclear cooperation and security guarantees, but everything was paused as the Israeli genocide in Gaza began on October 7.

When asked about the status of normalization, a White House National Security Council spokesperson stated that "US diplomatic efforts are currently focused on the immediate crisis," adding, "But we remain committed to the long-term goal of a more stable, prosperous, and integrated Middle East region, including through normalization and advancement of a two-state solution."

Netanyahu wants Palestine from the river to the sea

Speaking to Reuters, a senior Israeli official who wishes to remain anonymous, said there was "zero chance Netanyahu would talk about a Palestinian state," adding "But that doesn't mean the Saudis can't talk about it, or anyone else."

He affirmed, "As Israel has made clear, the Palestinians will not have sovereignty in terms of being able to have an army or to enter treaties with Iran or to threaten Israel in any way."

He also added that all normalization talks are being led exclusively by Netanyahu and his top confident Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, as this probably going to cause lots of issues amid the occupation's government.

In a statement last month, Netanyahu announced that  "Israel must have security control" over all the territory west of the Jordan River under any possible future agreement.

A US source declared that Washington is betting on Saudi Arabia's strong need and desire to secure US defense guarantees in making Riyadh more flexible on what would constitute "an Israeli commitment to a pathway to Palestinian statehood." The source added that a step in this direction is "Netanyahu dropping his opposition to the Palestinian authority playing a great role in post-war Gaza."

US elections are near, the clock is ticking

The 80-year US-Saudi Strategic partnership founded on the principle of Saudi oil in return for American weapons, prompted Biden to recalibrate the deterring US-Saudi relations as Biden has previously blamed Saudi Arabia for attacks on Yemen. 

The US source also stated that the closer the presidential election campaign, the harder it will be for the Biden administration to gain traction for any US-Saudi security pact in Congress. Thereby, US officials are hoping normalization in turn for US defense will help give them more congressional support. 

Some analysts believe that Netanyahu may favor waiting for the outcome of the elections as Trump is Biden's Republican opponent, and he has a good history with both "Israel" and Saudi Arabia. This means that a second Trump presidency will support the Israeli-Saudi normalization even though it is still unclear how much it would support the US-Saudi defense relations.