On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the idea that normalizing ties between Israel and Arab countries would solve the Middle East crisis, according to the AFP news agency.
“Some people think that by forcing neighboring countries to normalize their ties (with Israel) the problem will be solved,” Khamenei said. “They are wrong.”
“Palestine should be returned to them (Palestinian Arabs),” he added. “They should form their own regime, their own system, then that system should decide how to deal with the Zionists.”
Khamenei’s comments followed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement on Monday about Washington’s readiness to offer Saudi Arabia a security package in exchange for normalization with Israel.
Efforts towards normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia seemed underway before Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.
Sources reported that Saudi Arabia had put plans to normalize ties with Israel on hold amid the Gaza conflict.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan later stated that talks on normalization with Israel would resume after the Gaza conflict ended.
He reiterated that normalization with Israel hinges on the cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Blinken recently mentioned “good progress” in talks between the US and Saudi Arabia on normalizing ties with Israel, expressing hope for a historic agreement.
{Matzav.com}
