Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) delivered a scathing condemnation of Israel’s actions against Palestinians during his annual address to the Shura Council, reiterating the kingdom’s commitment to the Palestinian cause.
The crown prince’s remarks were made in the wake of heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, and come as the Biden administration attempts to revive the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states brokered by former President Donald Trump.
MBS emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s support for the Palestinian people remains unwavering, and that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“We will not stop our efforts towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and we affirm that this is a top priority for Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The crown prince’s comments were made during his annual address to the Shura Council, a 150-member advisory body that provides counsel to the king. The council is comprised of scholars and experts in various fields, and its members are chosen by the monarchy.
MBS’ remarks were seen as a rebuke to the Biden administration, which has been attempting to revive the Abraham Accords and normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The crown prince’s comments suggest that Saudi Arabia will not be swayed by US pressure to normalize relations with Israel without a resolution to the Palestinian issue.
The Biden administration has been trying to downplay the significance of MBS’ comments, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggesting that a ceasefire in Gaza and a credible pathway to a Palestinian state are necessary for normalization to move forward.
However, MBS’ remarks suggest that Saudi Arabia will not be easily swayed, and that the kingdom will prioritize the Palestinian cause above all else. The crown prince’s comments have thrown a wrench into the Biden administration’s plans to revive the Abraham Accords, and have raised questions about the future of US-Saudi relations.
