Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that while he does not personally prioritize the “Palestinian issue,” it remains a significant concern for his people.
The exchange, detailed in a report by The Atlantic, took place during Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia in January amid discussions about the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.
This conversation occurred against the backdrop of U.S.-led efforts to negotiate peace in the region, which were disrupted by the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Mohammed bin Salman emphasized to Blinken that while he might not personally focus on the Palestinian situation, he recognizes that the younger generation in Saudi Arabia, who are being introduced to the issue for the first time due to the ongoing conflict, strongly care about it. This makes the matter a pressing one for the crown prince.
The crown prince expressed a desire for calm in Gaza if normalization with Israel were to proceed. He also responded to Blinken’s question about potential Israeli military operations in Gaza post-deal by saying that while such actions might be tolerable in the future, they should not immediately follow a peace agreement.
This highlights the balancing act the Saudi leadership must navigate between the aspirations of regional peace, the sentiments of their population, and the broader geopolitical realities of the Middle East.
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