Jerusalem, 21 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman viewed normalizing relations with Israel as an achievable goal, according to a former White House envoy cited by Israeli media on Wednesday.
The assessment highlights the potential for a historic diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Saudi Arabia, two regional powers whose closer cooperation could reshape Middle Eastern security and economic ties.
Normalization efforts gained momentum under the Abraham Accords, brokered during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first administration, which established formal relations between Israel and several Arab countries. Saudi Arabia, however, has not joined the agreements.
Progress toward an Israeli-Saudi deal has faced significant obstacles, including the war in Gaza and disagreements over Palestinian statehood. Riyadh has publicly linked normalization to progress toward Palestinian statehood, while Israeli leaders have resisted proposals they believe would compromise Israel’s security.
The former envoy’s assessment suggests that normalization was viewed as a realistic objective, despite the diplomatic challenges.
