Saudi Arabia appointed its ambassador to Jordan as the non-resident Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority and Consul General to Jerusalem, Arab and Israeli media reported on Saturday. 

According to the reports, Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has received the credentials of Saudi diplomat Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi. The move, which is seen as aimed to bolster the struggling PA, marks the first time the oil-rich Gulf kingdom will have official diplomatic representation in Jerusalem. 

A statement from Ramallah carried by Palestinian media outlets Al-Khalidi said the move represents “an important step that will contribute to further boosting the strong brotherly relations that bind the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.”

The appointment comes to the backdrop of persistent reports regarding the diplomatic effort toward a normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, spearheaded by the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Palestinians are concerned that any agreement may weaken support for their cause in the wider Arab world.

Saudi Arabia has quietly accepted the Abraham Accords that have normalized ties between Israel and Gulf states United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

When asked earlier this month if he would consider concessions to the Palestinians as part of a Saudi deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The Palestinians should have all the power to govern themselves and none of the powers to threaten us."

Source: i24 News