Tel Aviv, February 8, 2025: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the condition of establishing a Palestinian state in exchange for normalization with Saudi Arabia, controversially suggesting that the Kingdom create a Palestinian state within its own borders.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu was asked about Saudi Arabia’s long-standing demand that Palestinian statehood be a prerequisite for normalization with Israel. He responded bluntly, stating, “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, calling it a “security threat to Israel.” He referenced the October 7 Hamas attack, arguing that Gaza—under Hamas rule—had effectively functioned as a Palestinian state and that Israel “saw the consequences.”
Despite official Saudi statements reaffirming their commitment to Palestinian statehood as a condition for normalization, Netanyahu claimed that Riyadh does not actually insist on this prerequisite. He also revealed that Israel had engaged in secret negotiations with Saudi Arabia for three years, assuring that any agreement would not compromise Israel’s security.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, however, issued a firm statement last Wednesday, rejecting Netanyahu’s assertion. “Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering,” the statement read, reaffirming that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had made this stance clear in discussions with the U.S. administration.
While Netanyahu remains optimistic that normalization with Saudi Arabia is “not only feasible but inevitable,” his latest remarks are likely to intensify tensions over the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
