Saudi source: Normalization frozen until Netanyahu leaves office
A diplomat says the Gulf state requires a new Israeli government that accepts a two-state solution before relations can be formalized.
By Nina Patel ·
The timeline for a diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia has shifted by more than a year, according to a source familiar with Riyadh’s strategic planning. The delay stems directly from the current Israeli leadership, with the source stating that formal normalization will not proceed while Benjamin Netanyahu holds the premiership.
Speaking to Israel’s KAN News on Thursday, the source outlined the core demand: Saudi Arabia seeks a closed Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolved through a two-state solution. The diplomat characterized the barrier as policy-based rather than a personal grievance against the Prime Minister. However, the source noted that Riyadh views Netanyahu’s administration as preferring escalation over stability.
“As long as Netanyahu is in power with the current government, normalization is not on the agenda,” the source stated. The diplomat added that Saudi Arabia does not focus on the individual identity of the Israeli leader, but rather on the governing coalition’s willingness to engage in peace negotiations.
This stance aligns with previous communications from the Saudi royal family. In October 2025, a similar source told Israel’s Channel 12 that Riyadh is prepared to normalize relations once Israel elects a government that recognizes the two-state principle. That earlier statement suggested a potential window for change by the end of October 2026, contingent on a new administration taking power.
The diplomatic friction intensified in late October 2025, two days before Israeli elections. On October 25, Saudi Arabia joined Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan in signing a joint statement. The document declared Israel the fundamental source of instability in the region and beyond. Gulf analyst Dr. Ahmed Alkhuzaie noted that while this statement is blunt, it does not formally withdraw Saudi Arabia’s interest in the Abraham Accords.
Alkhuzaie explained that the statement signals a change in the conditions for engagement. He said Riyadh is signaling that it will no longer advance relations based solely on strategic or economic benefits while the Palestinian question remains unresolved. The message to Jerusalem is that meaningful progress on the Palestinian file is a prerequisite for any formal diplomatic tie.
The source told KAN that the Saudi position remains consistent: peace and negotiations are desired, but the current Israeli government is not positioned to deliver them. The diplomatic clock is now tied to the outcome of Israeli politics, with normalization effectively paused until a new government is formed.
