INTERNATIONAL

Saudi says no Israel ties without independent Palestinian state

• 07 Feb 2024

Saudi Arabia has told Washington it will not establish ties with Israel until an independent Palestinian state "is recognised", the Gulf kingdom's foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Kingdom has communicated its firm position to the US administration that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," read the statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Israeli "aggression" in Gaza must also stop and all Israeli forces must withdraw from the besieged territory, the statement said.