In a statement that sent shockwaves around the world, the Saudi government today announced a permanent end to any possibility of normalizing relations with Israel and called on all other Middle Eastern countries to immediately cut off all diplomatic, trade and security links with Tel Aviv.
The announcement was made at an emergency session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the meeting and personally announced the decision, affirming that this is a historic turning point in the Kingdom’s foreign policy.
“The Door to Diplomacy Has Closed”
In a televised speech, Crown Prince MBS stressed:
“We have been patient. We have opened a narrow door for peace and normalization, but recent actions [presumably by Israel] have demonstrated that our partner has no real goodwill for stability and justice in the region. Therefore, we declare: The door to diplomacy with Israel has closed forever.”
The decision marks the abrupt end to years of negotiations (mediated by the United States) on an expanded Abraham Accords, which were supposed to make Saudi Arabia the largest Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Urgent Call to Sever Relations
The most salient was Riyadh’s direct appeal to its allies and the countries that signed the Abraham Accords:
“We call on our brotherly countries and all members of the Arab League to cut all ties with Israel. There can be no peace and stability while part of the region is in conflict. Our silence has been interpreted as acquiescence. This must end now.”
This call puts countries like the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco in an extremely difficult position, forcing them to choose between maintaining their strategic economic and security partnerships with Israel and the United States, or following Saudi Arabia’s political and moral leadership.
Global Response and Forecast
Washington D.C. expressed deep disappointment, calling Saudi Arabia’s announcement “a significant setback for regional peace” and warning of negative impacts on global security.
Iran hailed the announcement as “a great victory for Islamic unity” and called for further action to strengthen joint military power.
Analysts say that if other key countries follow Riyadh’s call, this geopolitical shift will be the biggest in the region since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It could lead to the re-establishment of old alliances and exacerbate the East-West divide.
The world awaits the response from neighboring countries and Israel, as the Middle East stands on the threshold of a new era of instability and complexity.
