Israeli media: Prospects for normalisation with Saudi Arabia continue to fade

Israeli media has reported a decline in prospects for a breakthrough in normalisation talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, amid “stalled negotiations and shifting regional dynamics”.

The Israeli daily Maariv said on Sunday that discussions with Riyadh have effectively come to a halt, with a growing assessment in Israel that any resumption of talks is likely to take considerable time.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia has long been viewed in Israel as the most significant target for expanding regional normalisation agreements. However, the paper attributed the current stagnation to broader regional developments, particularly escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Maariv said recent developments in southern Yemen have highlighted the depth of the Saudi-Emirati rivalry, with Abu Dhabi seeking to entrench itself as an independent regional power rather than operating within Saudi Arabia’s sphere of influence.

The newspaper added that Israel views the UAE’s growing engagement with the breakaway Somaliland as further evidence of Emirati ambitions to shape the Gulf security landscape, with Israel positioned as a key strategic partner in that equation.

The report noted that Riyadh continues to rule out normalising relations with Israel in the absence of progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state, reinforcing a long-standing Saudi position that has gained renewed prominence amid regional realignments.

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