In Davos, Israel’s president says ties with Saudi Arabia key to ending Gaza war
- Isaac Herzog said normalising ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia is a key element of ending the war with Hamas and a game-changer for the entire Middle East
- US Secretary Antony Blinken also reiterated that a pathway to statehood for Palestinians could improve Israel’s security and relations with other countries
Normalising ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia is a key element of ending the war with Hamas and a game-changer for the entire Middle East, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss town of Davos.
“It’s still delicate, it’s fragile, and it will take a long time, but I think that it is actually an opportunity to move forward in the world and the region towards a better future,” Herzog said.
It comes days after Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said on a Davos panel that the kingdom agreed “regional peace includes peace for Israel.” He said Saudi Arabia “certainly” would recognise Israel as part of a larger political agreement.
“But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state,” he said.
US Secretary Antony Blinken also reiterated at Davos that a pathway to statehood for Palestinians could help improve Israel’s security and its relations with other countries in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government, however, are opposed to the concept of a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Herzog, whose ceremonial role is meant to serve as a national unifier, said public support for it is low because traumatised Israelis are focused on their own safety following Hamas’ deadly October 7 rampage. He displayed a photo of Kfar Bibas, the youngest Israeli held hostage in Gaza whose first birthday is Thursday.
