Source: New York Times
“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has declared that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel before the ‘establishment of a Palestinian state,’ an apparent hardening of his position on an issue that could reshape the diplomatic map of the Middle East. … For decades, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, like those of most other Arab countries, refused to recognize Israel without the creation of a state for the Palestinians. But after 2020, when four Arab states established formal ties with Israel in agreements brokered by then-President Donald J. Trump, Prince Mohammed became the first Saudi leader to talk openly about the possibility of Saudi Arabia doing the same.” [editor’s note: The state of Palestine was “established” in 1988 and is now a UN observer state, ICC and Interpol member state, and enjoys the recognition of 145 other states – TLK] (09/19/24)