WASHINGTON: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) reportedly told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he does not personally prioritize the “Palestinian issue,” according to The Atlantic.
During Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia in January, the two discussed potential normalization of relations amidst Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The Crown Prince allegedly stated, “Seventy percent of my population is younger than me. For most of them, they never really knew much about the Palestinian issue… Am I personally interested in the Palestinian issue? I don’t, but my people do, so I have to make sure that’s meaningful.”
Despite his personal stance, MBS emphasized the importance of Palestinian statehood in any normalization deal with Israel. He reportedly expressed concerns for his safety in pursuing normalization without significant concessions for Palestinians, citing the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as a warning.
Prior to the escalation of violence in Gaza, there were reports of a secret agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel aimed at establishing diplomatic relations, along with U.S. support for Saudi security and a nuclear program. However, following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Saudi officials paused negotiations, asserting that any normalization should not compromise Palestinian rights.
In response to these claims, a Saudi official denied that the Crown Prince made such comments, labeling them as “incorrect,” as reported by Middle East Eye. The Saudi government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, leaving the context of the denial unclear.
