Saudis Put Talks on Normalizing Ties With Israel ‘On Hold’

Saudi Arabia has reportedly paused its negotiations on normalizing ties with Israel, apparently taking a wait-and-see approach on how Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza plays out.

David Ross, a Middle East expert who worked in the Carter, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations, told The New York Times on Monday he spoke with a Saudi official after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday and “for the moment, it is all on hold.”

“There are two basic variables: the number of casualties and the atmosphere related to that, and second, if the Israelis come out of this looking like they have decimated Hamas as an organization,” Ross said. “The point is, in the next few weeks as Israel focuses on dealing with Hamas in Gaza — and whether it also faces Hezbollah in the north — the results may well determine whether the Saudis will want to go ahead.”

Pakistani news channel Samaa TV reported Monday that Saudi officials told Secretary of State Antony Blinken that negotiations on normalizing ties with Israel have ended. The news outlet did not provide a source for its claim.

Newsmax reached out to the State Department regarding the status of negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has been seen as a key player in advancing gains Israel has made since the 2020 Abraham Accords in establishing diplomatic relations with its Arab neighbors.

Martin Indyk, a former American ambassador to Israel, told the Times that Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attack could complicate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s talks with Israel.