RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Israel should ultimately be included in any future regional dialogue, but stressed that meaningful and lasting progress in the Middle East depends on resolving the Palestinian issue.
In remarks reported from diplomatic discussions and international forums, the Saudi top diplomat underscored that regional stability cannot be achieved without addressing Palestinian statehood and warned that questions remain over Israel’s willingness to engage constructively with the Palestinians.
Prince Faisal reiterated Riyadh’s long-standing position that normalization or broader regional integration involving Israel is tied to concrete progress toward a Palestinian state, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s continued emphasis on a two-state solution as the foundation for peace.
He also questioned whether current Israeli political conditions are conducive to meaningful engagement with Palestinian leadership, highlighting ongoing doubts about prospects for direct and sustained negotiations.
Saudi Arabia has in recent years increased its diplomatic activity around the Palestinian issue, while also signalling openness in principle to a wider regional framework that could include Israel, provided core Palestinian rights and statehood aspirations are addressed.
The comments come amid renewed international efforts to revive discussions on a two-state solution and broader regional security arrangements in the Middle East.
