The United States has downplayed rumors of a potential agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, claiming that additional talks are necessary before such an agreement can be reached.
The statements were made by White House spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday, who claimed that the two parties have not yet reached an understanding regarding a common framework for negotiations.
“There’s still a lot of talking to do here”, he said.
Kirby’s comments came shortly after the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported earlier in the day that Washington and Riyadh had reached an outline agreement for a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“I think……. Just to be clear, some people may have gotten the impression that the discussions are further along and closer to certainty than they actually are because of the reporting”, Kirby said.
He continued, “There is no agreed-to set of negotiations, no agreed-to framework to codify normalization or any of the other security considerations that we and our friends have in the region.
Read more: Normalizing relations with Israel is a losing game for the Arab regimes
However, Kirby asserted that the administration of US President Joe Biden is committed to continuing discussions and making an effort to advance the situation.
Following talks between National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Saudi officials in Jeddah, Vice President Joe Biden stated on July 28 that a deal for Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations may be in the works.
Riyadh ask Israeli for a peaceful initiative to create a Palestinian state
Riyadh publicly requested Tel Aviv to carry out the 2002 ‘Arab Peace Initiative’ to create a Palestinian state before signing a deal with Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right Israeli government, on the other hand, claims that as part of any potential agreement for normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, it will not make any concessions to the Palestinians.
US officials claim that the Saudis have privately asked the US to ensure their security in the event of an attack and to grant them access to civilian nuclear technology as well as more modern US weaponry.
Washington’s efforts to include Saudi Arabia on the list of Arab nations that have ratified the Abraham Accords come at a crucial time when Biden is running for re-election.
The US government has been embarrassed by the kingdom’s strengthening of ties with Iran and Syria and its further gravitation toward China.
2020 saw the signing of normalization agreements with Israel by the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, all mediated by the US.
The deals were denounced by Palestinians as “a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people.”
