Israeli President Expresses Hope for Normalisation with Saudi Arabia, Calling It a 'Dream'

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has reaffirmed his desire for Israel to reach a normalisation agreement with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia. In a rare interview with the Riyadh-based Al Arabiya channel, he stated, ‘It is my dream to see peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. I have great respect for Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.’ Speaking from Jerusalem, Herzog added, ‘What we want most in Israel is to see reconciliation between the two countries.’ He praised the Abraham Accords and Israel’s relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco as examples of successful regional cooperation, but stressed that Saudi Arabia is ‘a very important country’ and ‘a key leader in the Muslim world.’ Herzog said future normalisation should be handled directly between the two nations, with support from the United States. Saudi Arabia had reportedly engaged in tentative normalisation talks with Israel in 2023, but abruptly withdrew following the outbreak of the Gaza war. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Saudi officials have repeatedly stated they will not recognise Israel without a pathway to an independent Palestinian state, a prospect the current Israeli government firmly opposes.