Saudi envoy remained in UNGA hall as Israel PM Netanyahu delivered his speech

Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed optimism regarding the possibility of a groundbreaking diplomatic agreement brokered by the United States, establishing formal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This statement came during talks between the Israeli Prime Minister and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City.

This meeting marked the first encounter between the two leaders since Netanyahu returned to power. Netanyahu also commended a newly announced initiative focused on creating an economic corridor extending from India to Europe. This corridor would include a rail connection passing through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, and Netanyahu described it as a significant development.

While only a few Arab states have recognized Israel since its establishment in 1948, the previous US administration under President Donald Trump played a role in facilitating agreements that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020. Sudan also agreed to join these normalization deals, referred to as the Abraham Accords.

Despite calls from Israeli leaders for a similar pact with Saudi Arabia, Saudi officials have stated their commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative links normalization of relations with Israel to conditions such as Israel’s withdrawal from Arab territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and a “fair solution” to the issue of Palestinian refugees.