Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has reiterated that the creation of the establishment of a Palestinian state is the fundamental requirement for Saudi Arabia to establish normal relationships with Israel. His remarks, which he made during the meeting of the US President Donald Trump in Washington on 18 November 2025, highlight Riyadh’s strong position amid renewed diplomatic efforts within the Middle East. The Times of Israel+2Malay Mail+2
In the Oval Office session, Prince Mohammed said: “We are for peace with the Israelis. We would like peace for Palestinians. It is our wish that they live peacefully within this region. .” The Times of Israel+1
Saudi position and its context
Saudi Arabia’s stance matches with earlier statements that normalising relations with Israel is contingent upon political advancement to Palestinians. Palestinian people. For many years, Riyadh has maintained that the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders that includes East Jerusalem as its capital is an red line. haaretz.com+1
The briefing of the crown prince on his counterpart US President also contained details of the upcoming dealsparticularly on nuclear energy and the sale of military aircrafts that are advancedwhich has sparked fears that Riyadh is trying to position itself strategically to Washington when it considers a possible the possibility of normalization Israel. The Times of Israel+1
What does this mean for the the dynamics between Israel and Saudi Arabia
For Israel the Saudi Arabian demand represents a significant obstacle. The present Israeli government has demonstrated a lack of willingness to create a fully autonomous Palestinian state, raising doubts regarding whether the most powerful Arab power can move forward without making any tangible progress on this front. Experts believe this Saudi line is increasing the pressure on Israel to provide a convincing Palestinian plan of action if it wishes Riyadh’s official recognition.
From the perspective of Saudi Arabia the demand for Palestinian statehood lets the kingdom continue its position as the guardian of the Arab-Palestinian conflict as well as engage in broader geopolitical reorientation that involves closer ties with as well the United States and Israel.
Implications and the next steps
The diplomatic process is in full motion Crown prince said his belief that Saudi Arabia is “working” to get ready for normalization, but he also reiterated that the right conditions must first be met. The Times of Israel+1
U.S. function: Washington appears ready to help in the process, however crucial details regarding timeframes, guarantees and the scope of the agreement remain unclear.
The ripple effects of regional repercussions: If Saudi Arabia proceed with normalization but insist on Palestinian statehood and other Arab states could adopt the same approach, thereby lending credibility to the two-state option as an option for bargaining.
The obstacles ahead Israel’s internal politics as well as differing views about Palestinian statehood continue to be major hurdles. The Saudi position demonstrates the fact that normalization is not just transient without taking into account larger regional justice issues.
Conclusion
In reaffirming the connection with Palestinian statehood and relations with Israel In reaffirming the link between Palestinian statehood and ties with Israel, the Saudi royal family has put the Palestinian question at the forefront for one most important Middle Eastern diplomatic shifts. The extent to which Saudi Arabia moves from promise to an official agreement with Israel depends on whether a viable path towards Palestinian self-determination can be found. In the meantime, Riyadh is signalling that any future relations with Israel are not at the cost of Palestine’s national aspirations.