Saudi Arabia Leaves Israel Out of UN Speech as Countries Inch ‘Closer’ to Normal Relations

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan didn’t mention Israel during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, despite recent reports that the two Middle Eastern countries were getting “closer” to a "historic peace."

Farhan spoke in length about several other issues during his UN speech such as the importance of bringing peace and stability to the Middle Eastern region, climate change initiatives, and Saudi Arabia’s approach to human rights by promoting and amending laws that “protect livelihoods.”

His remarks come a few days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, told Fox News that the prospects of normalized relations between his country and Israel “get closer” each day, but that Palestinian rights remain a “very important” issue. 

Though Farhan echoed Salman’s remarks about the Palestinian issue, he didn’t mention Israel or provide updates about Saudi-Israeli negotiations about normalizing relations.   

“We affirm that security in the Middle East region requires the acceleration of the quest for a just [and] comprehensive solution for the Palestinian issue… that allows Palestinian people to have an independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” said Farhan during his speech today.

He continued: “We reaffirm our rejection and condemnation of all unilateral measures that are a flagrant violation of international law and undermine regional international efforts by hindering the process of finding a political solution.”

Saudi international conflict analyst Saad Abdullah al-Hamid told The Messenger that Saudi officials have repeatedly expressed their openness to normalization, “especially that Israel is already part of the Middle Eastern region,” even though Israel has been “isolated” for a while amid the recently restored Saudi-Iranian relations. 

Al-Hamid also believes that Israel’s conservative government somehow contributed to the country being distant from the rest of the region. But he confirmed that Salman’s recent remarks to Fox News are an indication that normalization is completely possible.

“Salman’s comments were clear, stating that there is progress, but we’re still in a negotiating phase and we haven't reached the end of it. And progress depends on how far the other party is willing to collaborate,” he said, echoing Farhan’s remarks about the Palestinian cause.

“Saudi Arabia wants a normalization deal with Israel in which all conditions set forward by the Kingdom are met,” al-Hamid added. 

Improved regional dynamics can come out of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, according to al-Hamid.

“If Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel, the kingdom could then possibly help pave the way for better Israeli-Iranian relations,” he predicted.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the UN General Assembly that his country was "at the cusp" of a "dramatic breakthrough: an historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia." 

Netanyahu continued that such a deal would "encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, between Jerusalem and Mecca, between the descendants of Issac and the descendants of Ishmael."