Saudi Arabia will not recognise Israel without Palestinian state, says Crown Prince
MBS condemned the "crimes of the Israeli occupation" against the Palestinian people


Dubai (Reuters): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday said the kingdom would not recognise Israel without a Palestinian state and strongly condemned the "crimes of the Israeli occupation" against the Palestinian people.
"The kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that," the crown prince, known as MbS, said.
After the eruption of war last October between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas that rules Gaza, Saudi Arabia put on ice U.S.-backed plans for the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel, two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking said earlier this year, in a swift reordering of its diplomatic priorities.
MbS, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, had said just weeks before the fighting broke out that Riyadh was getting closer to a deal.
The two sources told Reuters there would be some delay in the U.S.-backed talks on normalisation of Saudi-Israel ties, which is seen as a key step for the kingdom to secure what it considers the real prize of a U.S. defence pact in exchange.
MbS made the remarks at an annual speech to the advisory Shura Council, which he gave on behalf of his father, King Salman.
The council swore an oath of office before MbS on Wednesday before he addressed it.

Gold price plunges Rs1,400 per tola in Pakistan
- 15 hours ago

How Indy is exploiting New York's defense, plus more intel from the East finals
- 16 hours ago

Gauff advances at French Open despite struggles
- 16 hours ago

79.4 mph! How Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens became the hardest thrower softball has ever seen
- 3 hours ago

Trump figured out how to hit Harvard where it really hurts
- 2 hours ago

PM Shehbaz vows to defeat all nefarious designs of India, Fitna al Hindustan
- 12 hours ago

Quetta blast leaves two dead, six wounded
- 13 hours ago

The Supreme Court just gave 500,000 immigrants some truly awful news
- 2 hours ago

Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 jolts Japan’s Hokkaido, JMA says
- 16 hours ago

Canes save season, snap ECF skid with G4 win
- 3 hours ago

Google Photos adds Pixel-exclusive AI features to redesigned editor
- 4 hours ago

Haliburton's historic triple-double keys Game 4 win
- 3 hours ago