Netanyahu: ‘Palestinians can have a state in Saudi Arabia’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the condition of establishing a Palestinian state in exchange for normalisation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calling on the Kingdom to create a state for the Palestinians on its land.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu responded to a question about Saudi Arabia’s condition of establishing a Palestinian state for normalisation: “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”

Netanyahu stated that a Palestinian state is a “security threat to Israel”, noting: “Especially not a Palestinian state. After 7 October? Do you know what that is? There was a Palestinian state. It was called Gaza. Gaza, led by Hamas, was a Palestinian state and look what we got.”

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Netanyahu remarked: “I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen.”

He claimed that Riyadh does not stipulate the establishment of a Palestinian state for normalisation with Israel, despite the Saudi Foreign Ministry, as well as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, having stated establishing a Palestinian state is a condition for normalisation on more than one occasion.

Netanyahu also claimed in his statements that Israel had secret negotiations with Saudi Arabia for three years, adding that he: “Would not make an agreement that would endanger the State of Israel.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry asserted in a statement last Wednesday: “The Foreign Ministry affirms that Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering. HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister, clearly and unequivocally reaffirmed this stance,” noting that the Ministry has informed the US administration of this.

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