Saudi Arabia separates itself from the Emirates and will not maintain relations with Israel without a Palestinian state

Palestinian protest against normalization between Israel and Emirates in the West Bank on Wednesday.MOHAMAD TOROKMAN / Reuters

After a week of silence, Saudi Arabia detached itself from the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, which last Thursday announced the normalization of Israel's relations. Riyadh warns that it will not establish ties with the Jewish state until there is a Palestinian state, while reaffirming its commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative that the Saudi monarchy promoted in 2002. In accordance with this plan, the countries of the Arab League They were willing to recognize Israel following a final peace agreement with the Palestinians allowing the creation of an independent Palestine within the pre-1967 war borders (West Bank and Gaza), with capital in East Jerusalem, and offering a just solution to the return of the more than five million refugees from the Palestinian diaspora.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud maintains that his country "considers that any unilateral measure by Israel to annex Palestinian territory and build settlements undermines the two-state solution." He also stresses that “Saudi Arabia remains committed to a strategic regional peace option based on the Arab Initiative; and when it has been achieved, everything will be possible ”.

The head of Riyadh diplomacy made this statement at a ceremony in Berlin that was quoted on his department's Twitter account and by international news agencies. Prince Al Saud clarified, however, that while completely rejecting the partial annexation of the West Bank, the rapprochement between Israel and the Emirates, although unilateral, can be seen in a positive light.

The announcement of Saudi Arabia - the cradle of Islam and custody of its holy places - comes to cool the intentions of other Gulf countries, such as Bahrain and Oman, which had been favorable in recent days to follow the steps taken by the Emirates to normalize its relations with Israel.

Despite being a close ally of the United States and having unofficial contacts with Israel on security matters, the Riyadh regime has not joined President Donald Trump's plan for the Middle East, which allows annexation of up to 30% from the territory of the West Bank and which has been flatly rejected by Palestinian leaders. While the elderly King Salman has maintained the validity of the principles of the Arab Peace Initiative, his son and heir to the throne, Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, has been prone to a rapprochement with Israel in the framework of an alliance of interests against Iran. as a common enemy.

Following the diplomatic agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called for the opening of a direct air corridor between Israel and the Emirates through the Jordanian and Saudi airspaces, in order to strengthen contacts with the Gulf countries.

Saudi Arabia, however, does not allow Israeli planes to fly over its territory. While the Air India company has been allowed to pass through since 2018 on the New Delhi-Tel Aviv route, Riyadh's veto remains in force on the aircraft of the Israeli El-Al line, which are forced to make a long detour through the Red Sea that lengthens the trip to India for three hours.