US 'very close' to bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia as part of normalisation of relations with Israel

(Patria) - The United States said on Thursday it is "very close" to reaching an agreement on the bilateral part of a potential package deal with Saudi Arabia, which should include normalisation of relations with Israel, Al Arabiya reported.

"The Secretary met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia this week when he was in Riyadh... and we are very close to reaching an agreement on the bilateral parts of the normalisation agreement," said State Department spokesman Matt Miller following Antony Blinken's trip to Saudi Arabia.

As part of this broader agreement, there are bilateral agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia, which are being worked on to include a defence pact, cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, as well as Riyadh's civilian nuclear programme.

"There are several details we need to continue working on, but we think we can reach an agreement on those details in a very short time," Miller said, adding that work still needs to be done on a separate part: a proposal for a path to a Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel.

Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has repeatedly opposed the formation of a Palestinian state. Miller said the broader deal will only go through if all agreements are in line.

He also commented on Saudi Arabia's stance on Palestinian statehood and that there will be no deal while the war in Gaza rages. "Saudi Arabia has made it very clear that as part of any normalisation agreement with Israel, they have two demands: 1) peace in Gaza and 2) a path to an independent Palestinian state," Miller said.

The State Department spokesman stated that a normalisation agreement would be the right thing for the Palestinians, as well as for Israel's long-term goal of normal relations with its neighbours.

"It would isolate Iran, and, significantly, it would solve some very real challenges that Israel will face in Gaza when you look at the end of this conflict and how to rebuild Gaza, with a view to ensuring security for Gaza."

"Ultimately, the government of Israel will have to decide what is in the best interest of its people. But for the United States, we will work to finalise the proposals we are working on with our Arab partners, and we will present that point of view, and Israel can decide," he added.