Saudi Crown Prince mohammed bin salman rebuffed a direct appeal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to join teh Abraham Accords, prioritizing the establishment of a Palestinian state as a precondition for normalizing relations with Israel.
The November 18th meeting in the oval Office saw Trump “strongly urge” the Saudi Crown Prince, known as MBS, to sign onto the Accords-the U.S.-brokered agreements normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations. However, MBS “pushed back” when pressed, according to reports from Axios, which cited multiple U.S. officials. The exchange underscores the enduring centrality of the Palestinian issue to Saudi ArabiaS foreign policy and highlights a point of divergence between the two leaders.
This rejection carries significant implications for the future of the Abraham Accords and the broader landscape of Middle East diplomacy. While the Accords represented a major diplomatic achievement for the Trump administration, their expansion hinges on securing buy-in from key regional players like Saudi Arabia.MBS’s insistence on a pathway to Palestinian statehood signals that further normalization will require tangible progress on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict-a challenge that has stymied peace efforts for decades.
MBS arrived in Washington D.C. on an official working visit at the invitation of Trump, following direction from King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Following a warm welcome, MBS publicly stated his country’s desire to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, but reiterated that Palestinian statehood remains a critical prerequisite.
“A ‘clear path’ to the creation of a Palestinian state was needed before normalization could take place,” MBS stated. When Trump suggested his guests had a “vrey good feeling” about the Accords, the Crown Prince responded, “We want peace for Israel. We want peace for Palestine. We want them to coexist peacefully in the region, and we will do our best to make this happen.”
Riyadh has consistently emphasized the necessity of a just resolution to the conflict, beginning with the establishment of an self-reliant Palestinian state, as a foundation for thorough and lasting regional peace. Two U.S.officials described MBS as a “strong leader” following the meeting, as reported by Axios.