A delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday for a visit during which the Saudi ambassador to Jordan and non-resident in Palestine will present credentials to Palestinian authorities.
The visit of Saudi diplomat Nayef al Sudairi comes as Riyadh holds talks with Israel with a view to a possible normalization of diplomatic relations.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry emphasized on Tuesday via social network account X that the visit is “a historic moment for the development of brotherly relations.”
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Secretary Husein al Sheij said in a social media post that Al Sudairi “will hand over his credentials to President Mahmud Abbas in the coming days.”
Al Sudairi was appointed ambassador to Palestine and consul in Jerusalem in August, an initiative welcomed by the Palestinian Authority.
The visit to Ramallah is the first by a senior Saudi official to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.
Regarding the normalization of relations with Israel, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman said last week that “it seems that the talks process is serious for the first time,” adding that “it is getting closer every day.”
Still, Riyadh demanded an agreement on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians as a preliminary measure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli executive branch is about to “sign a historic agreement” with Saudi Arabia.
Eli Cohen, the head of diplomacy for Israel’s right-wing coalition government, indicated the deal “could become a reality in early 2024.”
So far, Saudi authorities have refused to normalize relations with Israel unless there is a prior agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that includes the creation of a state of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Source: DN
