Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords during a tense meeting at the White House, Axios reported on Tuesday.
According to U.S. officials cited by the outlet, Trump pressed the Crown Prince to normalise ties with Israel as part of expanding the accords. However, the discussion reportedly turned heated, with MBS firmly pushing back.
No Normalisation Without Gaza War Ending, Path to Palestinian Statehood
The report states that MBS told Trump Saudi Arabia cannot consider any normalisation with Israel until:
- The war in Gaza ends, and
- A credible pathway to Palestinian statehood is established.
The Crown Prince’s stance reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-held position that establishing an independent Palestinian state is a prerequisite for any diplomatic breakthrough with Israel.
Context
The Abraham Accords—brokered during the Trump administration—normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Washington has since been eager to bring Saudi Arabia on board, viewing it as the most significant potential signatory.
However, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis have hardened regional resistance to normalisation efforts.
