Non-Negotiable: Saudi Arabia's Absolute Condition for Normalising Relations with Israel

Saudi Arabia has again affirmed that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel before an independent Palestinian state is formed along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This position emerged amid reports that United States President Donald Trump is seeking to link US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation with normalisation of relations between Riyadh and Israel.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump has forwarded the US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement to Congress for review. However, the deal is said not to take effect if Riyadh does not join the Abraham Accords.

“The president’s position has not changed, and the agreement will not move forward unless Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords,” said a US government source, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal on Friday (28/8/2026).

The report emerged after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a civil nuclear agreement last month.

However, a Saudi source quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 denied any link between the nuclear cooperation and normalisation of Saudi-Israeli relations.

“The Saudi position is clear, firm, and unwavering,” the source said, as quoted by Middle East Monitor. “There will be no diplomatic relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

The source stressed that Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear programme is part of a broader strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington. Therefore, the programme should not be contingent on Saudi Arabia’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

Riyadh’s reaffirmation shows that the Palestinian issue remains the primary condition for any possible normalisation with Israel, even as Washington continues to push for the expansion of the Abraham Accords in the Middle East.