Until there is substantial progress on the Palestinian issue, more especially the creation of a viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, Saudi Arabia does not currently favor official diplomatic relations or normalization with Israel. Saudi Arabia endorses the Abraham Accords and shows security cooperation preparedness with Israel but maintains that Palestinian peace will be the essential requirement for establishing normalization.
The Saudi royal family, along with its officials, consistently declares that Saudi Arabia refuses to establish diplomatic ties with Israel before Palestinian statehood achieves independence. Recent wars, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict, have impaired normalization efforts because Saudi officials use this time to protest Israeli actions while seeking consequences for Israeli leadership. However, strategic cooperation and covert security with Israel persist, primarily due to shared worries about regional dangers such as Iran.
Relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel
Over a year has passed since the terrible attacks that killed 1,200 innocent Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. This day was the first of many more terrible days in Gaza, where tens of thousands of innocent people have perished and innumerable others have endured industrial-scale suffering. Since the war has spread both domestically and globally, and the focus has shifted to a hot cease-fire in Lebanon and the dramatic events taking place in Syria, all chances that it will soon come to an end are dwindling.
The unstable and unhealthy status of Arab-Israeli relations has been exemplified by this war. It has also demonstrated that no one leader possesses the authority or political will necessary to bring about peace. To turn this catastrophic circumstance into a chance to promote peace, stability, and security, a new dynamic of collective leadership will be needed to resolve this issue. Although it cannot do it alone, Saudi Arabia is a crucial player that can assist in promoting a genuine route to peace.
What are the main challenges in achieving a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine?
The biggest obstacles hindering Israel from reaching a two-state deal with Palestine combine multiple social, political, and territorial problems.
1. Israeli settlements and territorial disputes
The continuous expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem remains a critical challenge because these locations are outlawed under international rules. The establishment of Israeli settlements creates complicated conditions for finding agreements on borders using pre-1967 lines while causing territorial division, which narrows down available space needed for a Palestinian independent state. Approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers exist within the West Bank territories, where they remain concerned about the potential annexation of their communities, which will generate decisive territorial disputes regarding borders resource authority, and government power.
2. Political divisions and leadership challenges
Hamas’ control in Gaza and Fatah’s authority in the West Bank create Palestinian national disunity, which makes it challenging for their unified representation in the negotiation process. The Palestinian Authority faces challenges in pursuing justified representation for peace initiatives because of this partition. Right-wing and nationalist Israeli parties, together with settler movements, delay negotiations through their strong opposition toward Palestinian state development, along with territorial compromises.
3. Jerusalem’s status
Jerusalem remains at the center of controversy because both the Israeli and Palestinian communities declare it their capital city. The situation becomes difficult to agree upon because Israeli activities alongside city settlement expansion violate the two-state solution framework that envisions East Jerusalem becoming the capital of an upcoming Palestinian state.
4. Security concerns and civil unrest
If a Palestinian state is created, Israel fears losing its “Jewish identity” and is concerned about domestic stability and security, particularly in light of possible terrorism and civil unrest. Israel is hesitant to give in to Palestinian demands for true freedom, equality, and an end to Israeli oppression and occupation without assurances.
5. Lack of trust and failed peace efforts
Years of violent conflict between the groups have developed intense mutual distrust because of endless discussions without results and extreme brutality. The comprehensive lack of trust between Israelis and Palestinians blocks both communication and compromises related to their peace commitments.
6. International and regional factors
International progress toward peace remains blocked by inconsistent Israeli pressure, which stems from essential actors such as the USA, and by a lack of effective actions to enforce peace agreements. Rivalries between local entities combined with unsettled conflicts work towards increasing sociopolitical rifts, which reduce the chances of successful peace agreements.
What are the main security concerns for Israel in a two-state solution?
In a two-state solution, Israel’s primary security concerns center on preserving its capacity for effective self-defense while resolving the difficulties brought on by the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Important issues include:
1. Loss of border control and strategic depth
The defense of Israel remains reliant on dominating the Jordan Valley along with the eastern slopes of the West Bank because of its limited territorial size. A Palestinian state in these territories concerns Israel because it would result in the loss of critical physical space and warning time for eastern threats, such as cross-border terrorist activities, weapons trafficking, and missile attacks.
2. Demilitarization of the Palestinian state
Israel insists that future Palestinian states must remain without military forces because it wants to prevent such territories from evolving into assault bases or becoming conventional military threats. A serious security concern for Israel is the possibility of a hostile or well-armed Palestinian state joining forces with its neighbors.
3. Terrorism and internal threats
Asymmetric terrorism, along with rocket strikes and underground intrusions, forms among the threatening weapons Israel fears emanating from its Palestinian border. A key requirement demands that the Palestinian state show capability in stopping cross-border attacks while working together on security measures.
4. Control over Airspace and surveillance
To stop the employment of drones, missiles, and other aerial threats, Israel needs to have control over Palestinian airspace or, at the very least, maintain close observation of it.
5. Strong security collaboration and multi-pronged protection
In order to preserve security while upholding Palestinian sovereignty, proposed security architectures place a strong emphasis on multilayered systems that include data exchange, joint operations centers, and the progressive redeployment of Israeli forces with benchmarks. These solutions include modern anti-tunneling technologies and exceptional security zones close to vital borders.
6. Public stability and psychological security
Secure feelings among Israeli citizens are as important as physical defense to Israel, which demands security plans that maintain public trust while adapting to unforeseen events.
What are the challenges of demilitarizing the Palestinian state?
The process of demilitarizing a Palestinian state faces numerous challenges that derive from governmental matters and law enforcement issues, as well as safety concerns. The Palestinian leadership stands in the way of non-military progress because it refuses to accept clear restrictions on military equipment.
The Palestinian government wants to maintain possession of mortars along with anti-tank missiles and armored vehicles, while Israel rejects their possession as incompatible with genuine demilitarization, although there could be acceptable restrictions applied to combat planes and tanks. Given reports that a Palestinian army is already being developed, this illustrates a larger reluctance to give up the right to self-defense and retain military capability.
The international and legal framework is another significant barrier. Experts contend that because sovereign governments have an inalienable right to self-defense that cannot be superseded by previous obligations, any demilitarization agreements made before independence may be null and unlawful under international law. As a result, long-term enforcement may be compromised even if Palestine initially consents to demilitarization because it may subsequently lawfully revoke such agreements.
Security is also a top priority.
Conclusion
Saudi government officials have steadfastly endorsed Palestinian independence since they consider Palestinian sovereignty progress vital to establishing better diplomatic ties with Israel. The royal family adamantly disapproves of any policy that endangers Palestinian rights or Middle Eastern stability, since it repeatedly turns down plans seeking Palestinian population relocation, particularly from Gaza. The nation of Saudi Arabia leads multiple global efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by taking leadership roles in Arab coalitions and United Nations conferences.
