Saudi Crown Prince’s Firm Stance on Palestinian Statehood Reportedly Frustrated Trump’s Normalization Efforts with Israel
WASHINGTON – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly rebuffed former U.S.President Donald Trump’s attempts to swiftly normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, insisting that any such agreement hinge on the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to multiple reports surfacing this week. The revelation sheds light on a key point of contention during the Trump governance’s push for Abraham Accords expansion and underscores the enduring centrality of the Palestinian issue in regional dynamics.
The reported friction, occurring throughout 2021 and 2022, demonstrates the limits of U.S. influence in brokering normalization deals without addressing core Arab demands. While the Abraham Accords saw Israel normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, saudi Arabia – considered the most significant potential partner – remained hesitant.sources familiar with the discussions indicate that Prince Mohammed consistently linked Saudi recognition of Israel to concrete progress toward a two-state solution, a position he maintains to this day. This stance reportedly frustrated Trump, who favored a transactional approach focused on immediate diplomatic gains.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump believed a deal with saudi Arabia would be a “grand slam” and repeatedly pressed Prince Mohammed during meetings and phone calls. though, the Crown prince reportedly remained steadfast, arguing that moving forward without addressing Palestinian grievances would be politically unsustainable within the Arab world and would risk destabilizing the region.
“The Saudis were very clear: no Palestinian state, no deal,” a source familiar with the negotiations told the journal. “Trump didn’t like it, but MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] didn’t budge.”
The Biden administration has since adopted a more nuanced approach, emphasizing the need for a thorough regional strategy that includes addressing the Palestinian issue. Current efforts to broker a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, reportedly involving U.S. mediators, are similarly focused on securing concessions for Palestinians, including a pathway toward statehood and security guarantees.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7th, has further intricate the situation, raising questions about the feasibility of any near-term normalization deal. However, the past context of Prince Mohammed’s firm stance highlights the enduring importance of the Palestinian question in shaping the future of regional diplomacy.
