Saudi Says No Israel Normalisation Without 'Irreversible' Palestinian State Path After Trump Call

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 22:26 IST

For Saudi Arabia, any move towards Israel carries major political and religious weight as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it will not move towards normalising relations with Israel unless there is a clear and irreversible pathway to Palestinian statehood, pushing back against US President Donald Trump’s call for a wider regional push to join the Abraham Accords.

The position was reiterated by a Saudi source speaking to CNN, who said Riyadh’s stance remained unchanged despite renewed US pressure for Arab and Muslim-majority countries to recognise Israel as part of a broader regional settlement linked to ongoing Iran negotiations.

The source stressed that Saudi Arabia’s position was “the same as always", insisting on an “irreversible pathway to a Palestinian state" before any diplomatic normalisation with Israel can take place.

Trump Pushes Wider Accords Expansion

The comments come after Trump earlier said that several Middle East and other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, should be required to join the Abraham Accords as part of efforts to reach a deal involving Iran.

He also suggested that participation in the accords should be mandatory for regional states, framing it as part of a wider attempt to reshape Middle East diplomacy. However, progress on the Iran negotiations has reportedly slowed, with both sides offering conflicting signals on how close a deal may be.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had spoken to leaders of several countries over the weekend and urged them to join what he described as a “historic" diplomatic framework. He said the Abraham Accords could become part of a broader settlement involving Iran if a final agreement is reached.

The accords, first signed in 2020, saw the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalise ties with Israel, followed later by Morocco and Sudan. Egypt and Jordan already have formal relations with Israel, though ties have remained politically sensitive.

Riyadh’s Political Red Line

Trump has repeatedly called for expanding the agreements during his political career, arguing they could bring long-term stability to the region.

For Saudi Arabia, any move towards Israel carries major political and religious weight as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. Officials have consistently maintained that recognition of Israel cannot happen without concrete steps towards Palestinian statehood.

The kingdom’s longstanding position has been that it would not sign the accords unless there is an agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Saudi Says No Israel Normalisation Without 'Irreversible' Palestinian State Path After Trump Call

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