Israel has firmly rejected the establishment of a diplomatic base in Jerusalem for the newly appointed Saudi envoy to the Palestinians. The appointment of the Saudi Ambassador to Jordan, Nayef Al-Sudairi, as a non-resident envoy to the Palestinians comes at a time when the United States is working towards normalizing Israeli relations with Saudi Arabia.
In a social media post by the Saudi embassy in Amman, it was stated that the role of “consul-general in Jerusalem” has been added to Al-Sudairi’s responsibilities. This aligns with the long-standing aspiration of the Palestinians to establish a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.
However, Israel considers Jerusalem as its own capital, a status recognized by the United States under the Trump administration in 2017, but not by other countries. As a result, Israeli authorities prohibit Palestinian diplomatic activity in the city and are adamant about not allowing any kind of diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.
Saudi Arabia has historically supported the Palestinian cause and has refrained from establishing official ties with Israel. However, the US is working towards a potential historic Middle East deal that includes normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated, “This (Al-Sudairi) could be a delegate who will meet with representatives in the Palestinian Authority,” indicating that the appointment may be intended for discussions with Palestinian officials. He emphasized that Israel will not allow the establishment of an official diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.
Israel’s right-wing government has downplayed the possibility of making significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has previously linked its recognition of Israel to the resolution of the Palestinian statehood issue. However, one of the challenges in achieving Palestinian statehood is the division between the internationally supported Palestinian administration and the armed Islamist group Hamas.
Bassam Al-Agha, the Palestinian ambassador to Riyadh, viewed Al-Sudairi’s appointment as a confirmation of Saudi Arabia’s support for Palestinian statehood and a rejection of former US President Trump’s policies. He stated that this signals a continuation of Saudi Arabia’s stance on the Palestinian issue.
Although the appointment of Al-Sudairi has not been coordinated with Israel, Cohen sees it as a potential message from Saudi Arabia to the Palestinians amidst progress in US talks with both Saudi Arabia and Israel. He believes that the Saudis want to assure the Palestinians that they have not been forgotten.
In conclusion, Israel’s rejection of a Jerusalem base for the Saudi envoy to the Palestinians reflects the ongoing complex dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East.