Saudi crown prince says no Israel normalization without Palestinian state
The crown prince's comments follow the kingdom's top diplomat saying that any deal with Israel would require a pathway toward a Palestinian state.
Saudi Arabia will not recognize Israel without a Palestinian state, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Wednesday, as he condemned "crimes of the Israeli occupation" against the Palestinian people.
“The kingdom will not stop its tireless work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that,” said the de facto leader, according to multiple reports.
Crown Prince Mohammed made the remarks during a speech to the Shura Council, a Saudi government advisory board. The statements came as talks to end the war in Gaza seemed to have reached a deadlock and as tensions flared between Israel and Lebanon following Tuesday's attack targeting electronic devices of Hezbollah members. Shortly after the crown prince's speech a second wave of similar attacks was carried out in Lebanon. The explosions were widely attributed to Israel.
The crown prince added his "strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people" in the speech.
