YONI BEN MENACHEM -- The Saudi cabinet issued a statement emphasizing that Middle East security requires speeding up a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue. This includes establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia on May 13. Israeli officials believe reaching a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza before his visit will be very difficult. Since the war began, Saudi Arabia has taken a harsh stance toward Israel, repeatedly condemning IDF actions in Gaza.
Israeli political sources assess that Riyadh aims to deepen its political, security, and economic ties with the Trump administration—without linking them to any normalization with Israel. This could become clearer during Trump’s visit to Riyadh. It remains uncertain if Trump will accept such a separation.
During the Biden era, talks around normalization envisioned a three-way deal: the U.S. would provide Saudi Arabia with a defense pact, advanced weapons, and support for a civilian nuclear program—while Israel and Saudi Arabia would normalize relations. But Saudi Arabia has demanded a firm Israeli commitment to a two-state solution, which Israel refuses, even at a declarative level.