US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Wednesday that there could be more Arab countries formalizing diplomatic relations with Israel within the coming months, as the administration continues to prioritize expanding regional normalization, especially with Saudi Arabia, according to AFP.
Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio expressed optimism about the trajectory of these diplomatic efforts. “I think we may have good news, certainly before the end of this year, of a number of more countries that are willing to join that alliance,” Rubio said, referring to the Abraham Accords.
These accords, established under President Donald Trump’s leadership, marked a historic shift in the Middle East when the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco each signed agreements to normalize ties with Israel — breaking a decades-long freeze in Arab-Israeli diplomacy.
Progress with Saudi Arabia had seemed promising until Hamas launched a brutal assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack derailed the momentum, prompting Saudi leaders to suspend further movement toward a normalization deal backed by the United States.
Asked about where things stand now, especially following President Trump’s recent visit to Riyadh, Rubio said, “I think there’s still a willingness to do it.”
He acknowledged that obstacles remain. “Certain conditions are impediments, October 7 being one of them, but the Saudis have continued to express an interest, as have the Israelis, in reaching that agreement,” he explained.
In earlier remarks last September, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made clear that normalization would hinge on the establishment of an “independent Palestinian state” — a demand that Saudi Arabia has consistently reiterated since then.
Later, he went further in his criticism of Israel, describing the country’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide.”
{Matzav.com}