Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said on Friday, when asked about the possibility of normalizing ties with Israel, that the kingdom's current priority is reaching a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
He also highlighted the need to return to diplomatic negotiations when it comes to Iran's nuclear program, and Tehran's need to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog.
He was speaking during a visit to Moscow.
Israeli citizens support Saudi normalization
A majority of Israelis support normalization with Saudi Arabia and the expansion of the Abraham Accords this year, a recent survey conducted by Ipanel on behalf of the Coalition for Regional Security in May revealed.
Results found that 61% of respondents supported normalization with Saudi Arabia and broader regional agreements under the Abraham Accords. Among current coalition voters, support stood at about 60%.
In addition, 67% of the public believed normalization with Saudi Arabia would strengthen Israeli security, boost the economy, improve Israel’s regional standing, and weaken Iran. Support for this view was also high among coalition voters, at 65%
Saudi wants Hamas out of Gaza
Bloomberg reported in May that Saudi Arabia is working with France on a proposal to disarm Hamas terrorists, paving the way for its demobilization.
According to Bloomberg's sources, allowing Hamas to "retain a degree of political power would make it more likely to accept disarming," and the objective of the talks is to transform Hamas into a "purely political entity that can still play some role in future Palestinian governance."