Saudi Arabia has prohibited any public expressions of support for Palestine.

Saudi Arabia has prohibited any public expressions of support for Palestine.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated:

"The Palestinian issue is not my concern. My focus is solely on my nation and its citizens. We will not engage with radicalism. Our priority is to modernize swiftly."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly expressed indifference towards the "Palestinian issue" during a private discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This dialogue was cited in a feature article about the ongoing war in Gaza published by The Atlantic on September 25.

The 39-year-old Crown Prince acknowledged that, while he personally does not prioritize the Palestinian issue, it is significant to the Saudi populace, particularly as 70% of individuals in the country are younger than him. He remarked, "For many of them, the Palestinian issue is relatively unfamiliar.

They are being introduced to it for the first time through this conflict. It's a major concern. I don't care about the Palestinian issue personally, but my people do, so I must ensure it holds meaning." However, a Saudi official has since described this portrayal of the conversation as "incorrect." These comments were reportedly made during Blinken's visit to al-Ula in January, following the deadly Hamas-led attacks on October 7, and amid the Biden administration's efforts to facilitate normalization talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman articulated to Blinken the personal risks associated with pursuing normalization, referencing the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981 after he signed a peace agreement with Israel. The prince expressed concern about potential retaliation from the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is a faction.

"Half my advisers say that the deal is not worth the risk. I could end up getting killed because of this deal," he stated. Despite this, as recently as September 18, MBS underscored the importance of the Palestinian matter in relation to the Abraham Accords, asserting during the Saudi Shura Council's opening session that the kingdom firmly condemns the actions of the Israeli authorities against Palestinian people.

He reiterated the kingdom's commitment to facilitating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, declaring that normalization with Israel would not occur without this prerequisite. Former President Donald Trump was instrumental in brokering the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Furthermore, MBS reportedly conveyed to Blinken that Israeli-Saudi normalization might only be feasible under a Democratic administration in the White House. He expressed that the Biden administration presented his best opportunity for advancing his plans.

He believed that for a U.S.-Saudi defense pact to gain Senate approval, it would require Democratic support, which could be secured by integrating the formation of a Palestinian state into the agreement. He felt a pressing urgency to act before the November elections, which could usher Trump back into power. According to Israeli and American officials, a formal diplomatic agreement is unlikely to be finalized before the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.

MBS also reassured Blinken that Israeli counterterrorism operations in Gaza would not derail negotiations, stating in response to a query that these actions could be addressed later, but would not obstruct the path to signing a normalization deal.

He emphasized the need for stability in Gaza before advancing negotiations for normalization.
Edited @bosman