Analysis

War in Gaza: Saudi Arabia on the side of the Palestinians

The long negotiations around the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel had called into question Riyadh's support for the Palestinian cause. While a new round of negotiations began on Thursday February 8 for a possible truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Saudi kingdom this time clearly expressed its position: there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel as long as a Palestinian state will not be recognized within the 1967 borders.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 5, 2024. VIA REUTERS - SAUDI PRESS AGENCY

By: Oriane Verdier Follow

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the i's on Wednesday February 7. There will be no normalization with Israel without a ceasefire in Gaza and without the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This press release echoes the statements of the spokesperson for American National Security. Earlier this week, John Kirby suggested that the Saudis could normalize relations with Israel even before the end of the fighting in Gaza. 

Normalization between Washington's two allies is one of the major projects led by American President Joe Biden. His predecessor Donald Trump succeeded in signing the

Abraham Accords

in 2020 and 2021 which formalized the rapprochement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan.

But the negotiations with Riyadh are longer. In public, Saudi Arabia has until now remained vague on its demands, particularly regarding the Palestinian question. “

It is certain that there were more than symbolic demands regarding the Palestinian question

,” explains Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi researcher specializing in the country's foreign policy.

But they did not want to complicate ongoing discussions between Washington and the Palestinians

. »

Read alsoIsrael-Saudi Arabia rapprochement: Riyadh seeks to reassure the Palestinians

Before October 7, negotiations seemed to be intensifying one year before the American presidential election scheduled for November 5, 2024. But since then, the war in Gaza has broken out, upsetting the regional balance. “

Previously, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was an Arab and Muslim cause

,” recalls Aziz Alghashian.

It is now a regional security issue. So today Saudi Arabia does not want to bear the responsibility for greater conflict in the future, if it accepts normalization now without a Palestinian solution that truly addresses the suffering of the Palestinians. »

Riyadh therefore stands alongside the Palestinians, even if it means contradicting the White House. She adds her voice to the many countries that are today talking about a two-state solution in a more or less concrete way. 

A balancing act

It is also up to Saudi Arabia to fulfill its role as a great regional power. From Tehran and through the

axis of resistance

, Iran has particularly shown its support for the Palestinian cause since the start of the war. In Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, the armed groups it supports are simultaneously increasing pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Another influential competitor in the region is Qatar, which has established itself as a regional mediator. It is in Doha that the majority of current negotiations to find a solution to the war in Gaza are taking place. It houses a large part of Hamas's political leaders.

Also read Israel-Hamas: “Qatar essential role, Egypt operational role, the United States to reassure”

The United Arab Emirates remains silent on the issue. Following the Abraham Accords, they initiated numerous economic and strategic exchanges with Israel.

Riyadh intends to play its own card, that of multilateralism. A strategy adopted for several years, as Aziz Alghashian recalls: “ 

The Saudi calculation is to encourage regional self-management. A region less dependent on international factors. This is why Riyadh tries to maintain this kind of positive neutrality. We have also seen this regarding the war in Ukraine. Saudi Arabia refuses to choose a side because someone told it to. The idea is to say: 'Perhaps we will benefit more if we work together within the region'.

Alongside discussions with Israel, Riyadh also initiated a détente with Tehran, materialized by the reopening of their respective embassies last summer. This balancing act is of course more complex to carry out in the current context. As leader of the Arab world, Riyadh must stand alongside the Palestinians. At the same time, Israel is increasingly isolated on the international scene, and Washington is struggling to find allies.

Also read: United States and Israel, an unwavering alliance?

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