Saudi Prince Warns Israel is Untrustworthy, Sets Conditions for Normalization
Saudi Prince Warns Israel is Untrustworthy, Sets Conditions for Normalization
M.U.H
23/12/202517
Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, former head of Saudi intelligence, emphasized in an interview with The Times of Israel that Riyadh is not currently considering normalizing relations with the Zionist regime. He clarified that Saudi Arabia‘s stance on the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state and pursuing a two-state solution is consistent and non-contradictory.
Faisal stressed that implementing this solution requires a serious and reliable path to achieve the ultimate goal of forming a Palestinian state based on the Arab Peace Initiative. He noted that successive Israeli governments have rejected proposals for a two-state solution and a fair resolution for Palestinian refugees. Normalization with Tel Aviv, he said, is contingent upon achieving a final settlement, which would require the participation of numerous regional and global countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, Faisal lamented that efforts for peace ultimately failed because Israel was unwilling to bear the costs of achieving it. He warned that, given the current ideological trends within the Zionist regime, any steps toward peace could be reversible.
The Saudi prince also criticized Israel’s hostile actions in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as its failure to adhere to ceasefire agreements and commitments under normalization accords. He highlighted concerns over discussions of a ‘Greater Israel’ as further undermining trust, urging Tel Aviv to act in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions to rebuild confidence.
When asked whether Saudi Arabia would oppose normalization despite U.S. pressure, Faisal asserted that Riyadh formulates its foreign policies based on its own interests, not external demands. He referenced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s candid discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, noting that the U.S. did not express dissatisfaction. Faisal dismissed speculation about imminent normalization before the Al-Aqsa Storm operation as originating from Zionist and American sources, reiterating that Saudi Arabia will not consider normalization without a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue and the implementation of a two-state solution. He concluded that normalization with an Israel that does not coexist peacefully with its neighbors under international principles holds no strategic benefit for Saudi Arabia, and any successor to Netanyahu must accept this framework.
