Netanyahu Suggests Saudi Arabia Create Palestinian State on Its Land

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the condition of establishing a Palestinian state as part of normalisation with Saudi Arabia, proposing instead that the Kingdom create a state for Palestinians on its land.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu responded to a question about Saudi Arabia’s demand for a Palestinian state as part of the deal, saying, “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”

Netanyahu argued that a Palestinian state would pose a security threat to Israel, citing Gaza, which he described as a Palestinian state controlled by Hamas, as an example of the risks involved.

He emphasised that peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only possible but likely.

Despite Netanyahu’s assertion, Saudi Arabia’s official stance, reiterated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, remains firm on the establishment of a Palestinian state as a prerequisite for normalisation with Israel.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed this position last week, making it clear that Riyadh’s demand for a Palestinian state is non-negotiable.

Netanyahu also claimed that Israel had engaged in secret negotiations with Saudi Arabia over the past three years, stressing that he would not make any agreement that would endanger the state of Israel.