Crown Prince Salman, President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump is pressuring Saudi to normalize relations with Israel. However, there has been enmity between the two countries for a long time. This month, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will leave for America tour. But, now it is coming to light that there is little possibility of the relations between Saudi and Israel improving during this tour itself.

Mohammed bin Salman is going to visit the White House this month. This visit of the Crown Prince is being considered very special for America-Saudi Arabia relations. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia after decades of hostility could shake up the political and security of the Middle East, further strengthening America’s influence in the region. But, at present, it is not likely that relations between Saudi and Israel will improve.

Will Abraham sign the agreement?

Last month, Trump said he hoped Saudi Arabia would “very soon” join other Muslim countries that signed the 2020 Abraham Accords and normalized relations with Israel.

But Riyadh has indicated to Washington through diplomatic channels that its stance has not changed. He will sign only when a roadmap is agreed upon for granting statehood to Palestine.

He said the aim was to avoid diplomatic mistakes and ensure coordination between the Saudi and US positions before making any public statements. A source said that the purpose of this entire strategy is to avoid any confusion during or after the talks to be held at the White House on November 18.

What is Saudi’s condition?

Jonathan Panikoff, the former US deputy national intelligence official for Middle East affairs, said the crown prince would not “consider formalizing relations with Israel in the future unless there is at least a credible path toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Panikoff, who is associated with the Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council, said that the Crown Prince will work with Trump to advocate the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The journey will take place after 2018

This visit next week will be the Crown Prince’s first visit to Washington since 2018. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco have already normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Trump has said that he hopes to expand these agreements soon.

He said on November 5, now we have many countries that are joining the Abraham Accords and hopefully very soon Saudi Arabia will also join it. However, he did not give any deadline.

In a television interview broadcast on October 17, he said, I want Saudi Arabia to join and I want other countries to join. I believe that when Saudi gets involved, everyone else will also get involved. However, the issue of the establishment of a Palestinian state was completely ignored in the agreement signed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

Will relationships be better?

Two Gulf sources said Riyadh has signaled to Washington that any move to recognize Israel should be part of a new framework, not just an extension of the old agreement. For Saudi Arabia—the birthplace of Islam and custodian of the two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina—recognizing Israel would be more than just a diplomatic move. This is a sensitive national security issue linked to the resolution of the Palestine issue, one of the region’s oldest and most complex conflicts.

Saudi Foreign Ministry official Manal Radwan has demanded a clear and timely withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip, the deployment of an international security force and empowering the Palestinian Authority to bring it back to Gaza.

He said these steps are necessary for the establishment of a Palestinian state — a fundamental condition for regional integration and the implementation of the two-state solution.

Reuters sources said, since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a staunch opponent of the establishment of a Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia currently sees no possibility of fulfilling Trump’s demand in which he has talked about normalizing Saudi relations with Israel.

Saudi officials say that any progress in this direction is possible only if some important concessions are made – but at the moment neither Washington nor Israel seem ready for this.

What things will be discussed in the meeting?

Saudi officials are emphasizing that the main focus of the meeting between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman will be on defense cooperation and investment. He does not want the politically sensitive issue of normalizing relations with Israel to dominate the agenda of the meeting.