Saudi Arabia

Syrian FM optimistic about stronger ties with Saudi Arabia

Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visits Saudi Arabia, the first foreign trip by Syria’s new leadership following their rise to power last month.

Saudi Arabia:

Execution toll hits record high despite promises of reform

Saudi Arabia executed 330 individuals this year, marking the highest annual total in decades, according to tally published by Reuters.

Blinken:

'Saudis even more convinced of the need for a Palestinian state'

US Secretary of State tells Foreign Affairs magazine that Hamas has been more productive on getting a ceasefire and hostage release deal done "because they’ve seen that the cavalry is not coming to the rescue."

PMO:

Report PM made commitment on Palestinian state 'absolutely false'

Prime Minister's Office denies report a breakthrough was reached in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia with declaration Israel is committed to a 'path toward a Palestinian state.'

Report:

Breakthrough in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia

According to the report, Crown Prince bin Salman shows no interest in recognizing a Palestinian state, but wants to appease public opinion in his country.

Gallant after meetings in US:

Hostage deal will lead to peace with Saudi Arabia

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that there is an opportunity to bring home the hostages, and connected it to peace with Saudi Arabia which would 'change the face of the Middle East.'

Saudi Arabia:

'Israel determined to sabotage Syria's security'

Saudi Arabia continues recent trend of criticism of Israel, this time denouncing IDF operations at the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

Saudi royal lashes out:

'Israel is genocidal and an apartheid state'

Prince Turki Al Faisal, who served as Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, denounces the Jewish state as "genocidal" and an "apartheid" state, expresses hope that Netanyahu will face charges at the ICC.

New tally:

Record 101 foreigners executed in Saudi Arabia in 2024

Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, according to an AFP tally, a figure which nearly triples the 34 foreign executions recorded in both 2023 and 2022.

In summit in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince accuses Israel of 'genocide'

As Arab and Muslim leaders convene in the Saudi capital, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demands that the global community "immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon."

Mahmoud Abbas:

Suspend Israel's membership in UN

Speaking to the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called for Israel to be suspended from the UN and for international sanctions to be imposed on it

Iran-Saudi relations

Saudi Arabia's military chief visits Tehran

Saudi Arabia's military chief Fayyad al-Ruwaili visits Tehran, holds discussions with Iran's top military commander, General Mohammad Bagheri.

Report:

US, Saudi Arabia discussing agreement separate from Israel deal

Sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios that the US and Saudi Arabia are exploring a potential security agreement independent of a broader deal with Israel.

Saudi FM:

'Deals with US unrelated to Israel could go through'

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, says Riyadh could potentially act "quite quickly" on bilateral agreements with Washington, even if a comprehensive deal involving the recognition of Israel is not achieved.

Saudi FM:

'A genocide is happening in the Gaza Strip'

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, condemns the "complete blockade" of northern Gaza, reiterates that normalization is dependent on a Palestinian state.

Saudi spokesman:

'We participated in military exercises with Iran'

Saudi defense ministry spokesman confirms Saudi Arabia recently participated in military exercises with Iran and other nations in the Sea of Oman, but says no other exercises are planned at this time.

In first:

Iran and Saudi Arabia preparing for joint military exercises

Commander of Iran's navy says Iran and Saudi Arabia are preparing for joint military exercises in the Red Sea. The report has not yet been confirmed by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi channel suspended by Iraq for calling Hamas terrorists

MBC network's offices in Iraq stormed and ransacked by Shi'ite militia supporters angered by the network's description of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar as terrorists.

Saudi Arabia narrowly misses seat on UNHRC

Amid concerns over its human rights record, Saudi Arabia falls seven votes short in its bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. It was previously elected to the UNHRC in 2013.

Saudi report:

Substance painted on Nasrallah's hand facilitated tracking him

Saudi news channel Al Hadath reported that a man who came from Iran shook Nasrallah's hand and smeared it with a substance that Israel could track.

Saudi Crown Prince: I don't care about a two-state solution

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he would be willing for Israel to conduct counterterror operations in Gaza following war. 'I don't personally care about the Palestinian issue, but my people do.'

Saudi Crown Prince:

'No normalization without a Palestinian state'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, criticizes the "crimes of the Israeli occupation".

Director of AAPI:

'What is needed for for Saudi Arabi to be involved in Gaza?'

Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI): 'The Accords survived the war because of ties between the people, and not just the leaders. Saudi and UAE have 2 demands to be involved in Gaza.'

Iran’s Ayatollahs bully the US

The are doing that by destabilizing Saudi Arabia which is already frustrated by the US State Department's attitude towards Iran. Opinion.

Report:

Saudi Crown Prince fears being killed over Israel normalization

Mohammed bin Salman reportedly tells US lawmakers he fears being killed as Anwar Sadat was if he normalizes relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

State Department confirms:

US to resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia

The ban was imposed in 2021 amid concerns about the toll of the Saudi-led war against the Houthis in Yemen.

Biden to lift ban on sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia

Sources say Biden has decided to lift a ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a three-year-old policy, amid tensions in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabian official:

'Haniyeh elimination a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty'

In first remarks by a Saudi official on Haniyeh elimination, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister says it was a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty.

Report:

Efforts towards normalization with Saudi Arabia officially paused

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused efforts to achieve normalization deal with Saudi Arabia until after US elections, report says.

Houthi leader warns Saudis:

'Don't collaborate with the US, Israel and Britain'

In recently televised address, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddine Al-Houthi warned against Saudi Arabia’s “collaboration” with the United States, Israel, and Britain in implementing measures to close Sanaa’s banks, airport, and seaport.

US, Israeli officials:

'Saudi normalization not realistic until after US election'

American and Israeli officials familiar tell Ynet that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not a realistic possibility until after the US presidential elections in November.

Palestinian Arab vs. Saudi education - ignored by Foggy Bottom

Both the UAE and the Saudis have toned down their educational messages about Israel, while the PA has only made them worse. The State Dept doesn't seem to care. Op-ed.

UK Labour candidate:

'If we win the election, we will stop arms sales to Israel'

Fabian Hamilton, a candidate with Britain’s Labour Party, tells attendees at an event in a mosque that his party will stop arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia if it wins this week's election.

Mecca:

14 Jordanians dead, 17 missing at annual pilgrimage

According to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, the pilgrims died as a result of heatstroke as temperatures in the Saudi city are expected to reach 116 F.

Report:

US, Saudi Arabia closing in on mutual defense deal

US and Saudi officials told WSJ that the deal is close to being finalized, but US approval may depend on it being tied to Israel-Saudi normalization, for which Saudis demand Israeli commitment to a Palestinian state.

Senator Graham to Arutz Sheva:

'I want to wake America up, we have no better friend than Israel'

Senator Lindsey Graham receives Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Prize: 'Everybody wants to kill all the Jews, so now's the time for people in the US to circle the wagons. Speak up, speak out. We're next.'

US official:

'Deal between US and Saudi Arabia is pretty much there'

Senior US official says the US and Saudi Arabia have a “near final set” of bilateral agreements in place, but a broader deal with Israel is not close yet.

US national security adviser:

'Saudi defense pact not possible without Israel deal'

National security adviser Jake Sullivan says defense agreement with Saudi Arabia goes hand-in-hand with the kingdom and Israel normalizing ties: You can’t disentangle one piece from the others.

Normalization with Saudi Arabia

Deal to include five-year 'pathway' to Palestinian state

US, Saudi Arabia, may sign deal on condition that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel the moment Israel's government is willing to agree to a Palestinian state along the 1948 borders.

State Department:

'We're close to agreement on security pact with Saudis'

US officials say Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are finalizing agreement for US security guarantees which would be part of broader agreement which includes Israeli-Saudi normalization.

Saudi Arabia takes action against Israel defamers online

Saudi Arabia has launched a wave of arrests of citizens who attacked Israel and identified with Hamas on social networks amid the Gaza war.

Report

Saudis warned Israel: Rafah op will harm chances of normalization

A source in the Saudi royal family said that Israel must make sacrifices for peace to create a regional alliance with the Arab nations and that there will be no normalization without a Palestinian state.

Blinken:

Hamas has to decide quickly on 'very generous' deal

US Secretary of State says a lot of progress has been made towards normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, presses for hostage deal at World Economic Forum in Riyadh

Report:

US pressing Netanyahu to accept PA state for normalization

According to the report in return for recognizing Israel, the White House is offering the Saudis a more formal defense relationship with Washington, assistance in acquiring civil nuclear power, and a renewed push for a Palestinian state.

Israeli message of reassurance:

Any reaction against Iran will not endanger Arab countries

Israel conveyed a message to the countries in the region, that any retaliation for the Iranian attack, would not endanger their stability and regimes.

US to Arab countries:

'Tell Iran to de-escalate tensions with Israel'

US Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, reportedly asks foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iraq to deliver a message to Iran urging it to lower tensions with Israel.

Report:

Despite Gaza war, talks on normalization with Saudi Arabia

During an upcoming trip to the US, Min. Ron Dermer will meet Saudi Arabia's US ambassador, discuss potential normalization deal, report says. Dermer's office has denied the report.

In push for mega deal:

Biden adviser to visit Saudi Arabia, meet MBS

Report: White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia, meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a potential mega-deal that would include Saudi normalization with Israel.

Blinken:

'Good progress on Israel-Saudi normalization'

US Secretary of State says the United States and Saudi Arabia have made "good progress" in talks on normalizing ties between the kingdom and Israel.

Saudi Arabia announces funding for UNRWA

Saudi Arabia says it will provide $40 million in funding to UNRWA that will provide food and tents.

Saudi Arabia:

'Incident involving rabbi's kippah was unfortunate'

Saudi Arabia says incident in which Rabbi Abraham Cooper was asked to remove his kippah was a result of a "misunderstanding of internal protocols."

In Saudi Arabia:

US rabbi asked to remove kippah

US delegation on religious freedom cuts short its visit to Saudi Arabia after one of its members asked to remove his kippah.

Saudi King:

'Stop crimes against our brothers in Palestine'

Saudi King denounces “heinous crimes” in the Gaza Strip in statement ahead of Ramadan.

Blinken to Saudi FM:

'US committed to two-state solution'

US Secretary of State reiterates the Biden administration’s commitment to a Palestinian state in conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister.

Saudi Arabia denies its minister met Barkat

Saudi Arabia denies a meeting took place between its commerce minister and Economy Minister Nir Barkat, even though a viral video showed their interaction.

Saudi Foreign Minister:

'Recognition of a Palestinian state not enough'

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan says normalization with Israel requires both an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state.

PM reportedly considering:

Palestinian state in exchange for Saudi recognition?

A new report claims that Prime Minister Netanyahu will agree with US recognition of a Palestinian state in exchange for breakthroughs in negotiations with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia clarifies:

'No normalization without Palestinian state'

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry clarifies its position after White House says that Saudi Arabia and Israel are willing to continue to have normalization discussions.

Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince discuss Gaza war

The US Secretary of State is on a trip to the Middle East which will include a stop in Israel.

Report:

Saudis could make concessions on Palestinian state

Saudi officials reportedly told US counterparts they would not insist that Israel take concrete steps to create a Palestinian state as part of normalization pact.