Blinken: Palestinian issue is ‘very important’ for Saudi-Israel normalisation
The U.S. Secretary of State said it's 'clear from what we hear from the Saudis that if this process is to move forward, the Palestinian piece is going to be very important.'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Palestinian issue is “very important” for a normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel to materialise.
Blinken told “Pod Save the World” that it’s “clear from what we hear from the Saudis that if this process is to move forward, the Palestinian piece is going to be very important,” adding that it “needs to involve a two-state solution.”
“Normalisation” between Israel and Saudi Arabia can, however, not be a “substitute for Israel and the Palestinians resolving their differences and having a much better future for Palestinians,” Blinken added.
Despite the intense efforts by Washington to reach a deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, experts have pointed to the huge gaps that remain within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government when it comes to the issue of the Palestinians.
Numerous reports in international media indicate that Saudi Arabia is insisting on “significant” concessions by Israel toward the Palestinians, something Israeli far-right ministers have publicly refused to accept.
The latest example of resistance to Israeli cooperation with the Palestinians came on Wednesday, when Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir kicked following a report by Army Radio which said that Israel had approved a transfer of U.S. military equipment to the Palestinian Authority via Jordan.
Smotrich’s office issued a statement following the report, saying that the “transfer of arms to the PA and the steps at the President’s Residence (negotiations over judicial reforms) were a payment to Benny Gantz to establish a left-wing government with him that would seek to revive the Oslo Accords.”
Netanyahu quickly issued a statement, calling the report by Army Radio “fake news” but admitted that a transfer of armoured vehicles had been approved, in line with a decision made by the previous government.
In addition to Israeli concessions toward the Palestinians, American media have reported that the Saudis are seeking a NATO-like deal with Washington, as well as permission to build a civil nuclear power plant.
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