Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump has said he dreams of seeing formal diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but stressed that such a move must happen on Riyadh’s terms.
Speaking amid a backdrop of fresh multi-billion-dollar US-Saudi defence and economic agreements, Trump avoided tying any of the deals to the issue of Israel – a sharp contrast to the previous administration’s focus.
Shift From Biden-Era Priorities
While Joe Biden had made Saudi-Israel normalisation a cornerstone of his Middle East policy, Trump appears to be stepping back from those expectations. Analysts say this shift reflects growing frustration with Israel’s regional conduct, particularly its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
“The Trump administration has made it clear they’re ready to move ahead with Saudi Arabia without requiring normalisation with Israel,” said Anna Jacobs, a fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute.
According to Jacobs, Trump’s approach shows disillusionment with Israel’s escalating military operations in the region, especially in the Palestinian territories.
‘Time Is Not Right’
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at the Baker Institute, also pointed out the timing problem. He noted that with Israel’s refusal to negotiate a Palestinian state, and a full-scale war in Gaza, there is little space left for any breakthrough.
“The White House seems to have accepted that a deal right now is not realistic,” Ulrichsen said.
Trump’s earlier diplomatic success – the Abraham Accords, which normalised ties between Israel and countries like the UAE – did not include the Palestinians. Critics argue that ignoring the core issue has undermined the credibility of such agreements.
War in Gaza Complicates Peace Push
The Gaza war, which erupted in October 2023, further complicated efforts. Even before that, Israel had intensified raids in the West Bank and expanded illegal settlements, all of which weakened the prospects of a two-state solution.
Biden pushed hard to include Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, reportedly working on a deal until his final days in office. That plan included a security pact with Riyadh and US support for a civil nuclear programme, all in exchange for recognising Israel.
But Saudi Arabia remained firm on its 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which conditions recognition of Israel on the establishment of a Palestinian state. That condition has proven a major obstacle.
Israel’s Hardline Stance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the land-for-peace formula. Instead, he continues to pursue bilateral deals that bypass Palestinian demands. This approach, say analysts, is one reason Saudi Arabia is hesitant.
“This Israeli government won’t even pretend to support a two-state solution,” said Jacobs. “That makes it almost impossible for Saudi Arabia to move forward.”
For now, it appears the dream of normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel is on hold. Trump has acknowledged that reality and is prioritising US-Saudi ties without preconditions.
“It’s their decision, in their own time,” Trump remarked.
As long as Gaza remains under siege, and Palestinian statehood is off the table, the road to regional peace remains blocked.
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