Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jul 23: Israel on Thursday renewed its appeal for Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations, describing the kingdom's potential entry into the Abraham Accords as "a historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East".
In a statement posted on social media, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recent joint military action by Israel and the United States against Iran had created an opportunity to broaden regional peace initiatives.
The statement claimed that the military campaign against Tehran and the weakening of what it described as Iran's "terror axis" had opened the door for expanded cooperation between Israel and Arab nations.
The remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who said a proposed agreement would be approved but remained contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
Supporting Trump's position, Netanyahu's office said Saudi Arabia's participation in the accords would represent "a historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East" and concluded its statement with the phrase, "Peace through Strength."
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States during Trump's first presidential term, led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Saudi Arabia had explored the possibility of normalising ties with Israel in 2023 but suspended negotiations following the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Since then, Riyadh has consistently maintained that it will not recognise Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established.
A broader US-backed proposal linking Saudi-Israeli normalisation with cooperation on a civilian nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment within Saudi Arabia, has also remained stalled due to disagreements over the Palestinian issue.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, a position that continues to be one of the principal obstacles to any future normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.