WASHINGTON (AP) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a rare interview with Fox News on Wednesday that negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalised relations between both countries “get closer” every day, but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved.
Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States (US) to normalise relations with Israel in exchange for a US defence pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear programme.
The Saudis have said any deal would require major progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
“For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part,” Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, widely known as MbS, said on Special Report with Bret Baier in an interview conducted in English, adding that there had been “good negotiations” so far.
“We got to see where we go,” the prince said.
“We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians, get Israel as a player in the Middle East.”
He also denied reports that the talks had been suspended, saying “every day, we get closer”.
The interview aired shortly after President Joe Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while both were in New York for the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
Biden raised concerns about the far-right Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians and urged Netanyahu to take steps to improve conditions in the West Bank at a time of heightened violence in the occupied territory.
