Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel Normalization Without Palestinian State Amid US Nuclear Deal Pressure

Saudi Arabia has firmly stated it will not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This position was reiterated by a source close to the Saudi royal family in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to condition the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on normalization with Israel. The source emphasized that Saudi Arabia's stance is consistent and non-negotiable, clarifying that the nuclear deal is part of Riyadh's partnership with Washington and should not be linked to ties with Israel.

The Saudi official further noted that under the current far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and without significant progress on the Palestinian issue, normalization is not on the agenda. Riyadh prefers to wait and see the composition and policies of any future Israeli government before considering renewed discussions. Meanwhile, the US has submitted the nuclear cooperation agreement to Congress, initiating a 90-day review period after which the deal is expected to take effect unless rejected, a scenario considered unlikely due to the presidential veto power.

The agreement, signed on July 22 by the energy ministers of both countries, provides a legal framework for US assistance in developing Saudi Arabia's nuclear industry. However, it has sparked criticism because it restricts international inspectors' access to sensitive sites and could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium or process plutonium following joint research. Earlier reports indicated that the Trump administration would only advance the deal if Saudi Arabia recognizes Israel and joins the Abraham Accords, linking the nuclear cooperation directly to normalization efforts.