U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought progress on Wednesday on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, hoping such a historic deal could create incentives to end the war in Gaza. Blinken flew directly from Tel Aviv to Riyadh as part of a Middle East tour just days before the U.S. election.
Speaking in Tel Aviv before departing, Blinken emphasized the importance of keeping “eyes on the strategic prize” of Israel-Saudi normalization, even as efforts for a Gaza ceasefire struggled to gain ground. “There remains, despite everything that’s happened, an incredible opportunity in this region to move in a totally different direction,” Blinken said, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s key role in this potential shift.
In Riyadh, Blinken met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and later held an hour-long conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The State Department later confirmed that discussions included “the need to end the war in Gaza” and building lasting regional stability through greater integration among Middle Eastern nations.
Saudi recognition of Israel would be a significant milestone, as the kingdom is the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites. Before the October 7 Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed optimism about the prospect of formal ties with Saudi Arabia. However, with Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, U.S. officials believe Saudi normalization could serve as one of the few remaining incentives for a ceasefire.
Biden and Harris have faced criticism from the left wing of their party for not pressuring Israel more forcefully, such as by cutting off military aid. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham has suggested that the U.S. Senate would likely approve a Saudi-Israel deal during Biden’s current term.
Blinken, speaking in Israel, said he urged Netanyahu to conclude the Gaza conflict, stating that Israel had largely achieved its strategic goals, especially after killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He called for Israel to embrace a future integrated with its Arab neighbors, isolating Iran and its allies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
During Donald Trump’s first presidency, Israel reached normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain. Netanyahu has positioned Israel as a partner for Gulf states in countering Iran. However, U.S. officials acknowledge that Saudi Arabia is unlikely to move forward without meaningful progress toward an independent Palestinian state. Last month, Crown Prince Mohammed made it clear that Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without such a state.
