No surprises in Saudi desire for two-state solution

On Sept. 22, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood triumphantly at the podium of the UN General Assembly and proclaimed to the world, including those so-called pundits who doubted his peacemaking ability and acumen, that the Abraham Accords, signed by Israel with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan in 2020, had “heralded the dawn of a new age of peace.” Then he asserted boldly: “But I believe we are at the cusp of an even more dramatic breakthrough: an historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.”

In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have been telling both Israel and the Biden administration that they are prepared, with the support of Egypt and Jordan, to offer massive aid for the reconstruction of Gaza, but only on the condition that the Israeli government works toward Palestinian statehood. In remarks at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated: “Peace and security for Israel is intimately linked with Palestinians’ peace and security. We are fully on board with that.”

And in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that was broadcast on Sunday, Prince Faisal emphasized that creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel is “the only way we’re going to get the benefit. We need stability and only stability will come through resolving the Palestinian issue.”

Netanyahu’s reaction has caused confusion and potentially the collapse of this vital diplomatic initiative

Rabbi Marc Schneier

However, Netanyahu’s reaction to the Saudi declaration has caused confusion and potentially the collapse of this vital diplomatic initiative, which is so badly needed at this critical juncture. Some details of the Saudi initiative may be new, but the underlying premise is clearly not. Saudi officials have been consistent for more than a decade when discussing normalization with Israel alongside the creation of a Palestinian state.

When I privately met with Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Prince Faisal in Riyadh in 2020, they both explicitly stated the position of the Kingdom. They said the country was calling for the emergence of a Middle East that included a future Palestinian state and Israel living side by side in peace and security. In fact, this offer has been extended by Saudi Arabia since the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

So, why is Netanyahu acting surprised by the offer to spearhead the reconstruction of Gaza in exchange for a two-state solution? Why is the Israeli PM now reacting as if the Saudi position on the Palestinian state is breaking news? How else could Netanyahu proclaim to the world from the UN stage that we are on the cusp of the ultimate prize — normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia — without admitting to himself that the creation of a Palestinian state would be the condition for that grand prize?

The Kingdom’s position on normalization has not changed, even in the midst of the current crisis in Gaza

Rabbi Marc Schneier

No one can argue that the Saudi position, as reiterated by the minister of foreign affairs and reemphasized by the Biden administration, presents any element of surprise.

The Kingdom has, time and time again, expressed a hope and desire for normalization with Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state. Its position on the pathway for normalization has not changed, even in the midst of the current crisis in Gaza.

Mr. Prime Minister, let us embrace this historic opportunity.

We must recognize Saudi Arabia’s framework for its consistency and authenticity as an expression of the Kingdom’s aspiration for a transformative Middle East of peace, prosperity and coexistence.

• Rabbi Marc Schneier is president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and a noted adviser to many Gulf states.