Saudi Arabia Pushes for Gaza War Resolution to Pave Way for Israel Relations

Saudi Arabia is signaling that the pathway to normalizing relations with Israel hinges on the conclusion of the war against Hamas in Gaza and some gesture toward a future Palestinian state, speakers at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem said on Sunday.

Dan Feferman, chairman of Sharaka, a nonprofit advancing Israeli-Arab diplomacy, explained that the stakes are historic: “When Saudi Arabia signs a normalization deal with Israel, that will mark the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. At least a dozen other Arab countries will follow.”

Feferman cautioned, however, that Riyadh, as the guardian of Islam’s holiest sites, must not appear to be abandoning the Palestinian cause even if Saudi leadership recognizes that a two-state solution may no longer be viable. “They need to show that the Palestinian issue has not been ignored,” he noted.

The momentum toward deeper regional cooperation was also reflected in comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Friday that Saudi Arabia remains poised to join the Abraham Accords. “We would have had it packed. Now we’re going to start it again,” Trump said, referring to the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan’s historic normalization deals with Israel in 2020.

Trump, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE next month, hinted that progress could resume shortly after his trip, reigniting optimism about a renewed wave of regional peace initiatives.

“There are seismic changes underway in the Middle East, and we will only see them advance under Donald Trump,” said Victoria Coates, vice president of the Heritage Foundation’s Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy and former deputy national security advisor. Speaking during a panel on “The New Middle East,” Coates emphasized that renewed American leadership is crucial to consolidating these shifts.

For Israel, winning the war against Hamas remains a strategic imperative not only for security but also for diplomacy. Bobby Rechnitz, chairman of the Abraham Accords Roundtable, stressed, “The best thing Israel can do is win this war then peace with these countries will follow.”

Rechnitz highlighted the economic potential of regional normalization, noting that "economic cooperation will cement regional peace," and that Saudi Arabia, even if cautious for now, would inevitably join the expanding circle of Israeli-Arab agreements.

As Independence Day approaches and Israel reflects on its triumphs and challenges, the possibility of normalization with Saudi Arabia underscores the enduring truth: Israel's strength, perseverance, and commitment to peace continue to reshape the Middle East.

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