Former Saudi Ambassador To The U.S. Prince Turki Al-Faisal: There Will Be No Normalization Of Relations With Israel Before The Establishment Of Palestine, Return Of Refugees

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, formerly Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief and Ambassador to the United States, said in a March 14, 2023 on France 24 TV that Saudi Arabia's condition for normalizing relations with Israel would be compliance with the Arab Peace Initiative. He explained that this would include the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the return of all Palestinian refugees. Regarding Saudi aid to Syria after the February 6, 2023 earthquake, Al-Faisal said that he does not believe that this would lead to normalization of relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia because the Syrian regime "must be held accountable for its actions against the Syrian people."

Interviewer: "Are there conditions for [Saudi] normalization [with Israel?"

Al-Faisal: "The conditions for normalization with Israel are known."

Interviewer: "What are they?"

Al-Faisal: "The creation of a sovereign Palestinian state, with recognized borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the return of the refugees. These are the conditions of Saudi Arabia, which were included in the Saudi plan..."

Interviewer: "In the Arab [Peace] Initiative..."

Al-Faisal: "Yes, the Arab Initiative, which was declared by King Abdullah, Allah's mercy be upon him."

Interviewer: "in your view, there will be no normalization unless these conditions are met?"

Al-Faisal: "This is what the officials have said. It's not me saying this. I believe the officials when they say this. What you read in the press — it is just the press. I don't give it much credit. I always say to myself, as well as to others: Wait for the official statement.

"The agreement with Iran is a case in point. If you recall, during the negotiations that took place in Iraq and Oman, there were widespread interpretations in the press, but I have always said: Wait for the official statement.

[...]

"Saudi Arabia provided direct aid to Syria [for the earthquake relief]. I assume that there were contacts with Syrian officials to allow this aid to reach the victims of the earthquake. Will this be a first step, which will be followed by others? Maybe. However, sitting here, I cannot say that this will lead to normalization with a regime, which in my personal opinion — I do not speak on behalf of the government — must be held accountable for its actions against the Syrian people."