Saudi Arabia Warns Israel: West Bank Annexation Is Red Line For Normalization

Saudi Arabia has conveyed a sharp warning to Israel, telling officials that applying sovereignty over the West Bank would cross a red line and could put an end to normalization efforts tied to the Abraham Accords, according to a report by N12 on Sunday.

The warning from Riyadh and other Gulf capitals comes in advance of the United Nations General Assembly vote on recognizing a Palestinian state, as well as a French-Saudi initiative to implement such recognition.

“Annexation steps will have major implications on all levels,” Saudi officials wrote in messages delivered to Israel, according to the report.

Saudi political figures were said to have told Israeli representatives that Riyadh would not hesitate to employ economic and security measures to show its opposition. Among the options mentioned was the possibility of shutting Saudi airspace to Israeli flights.

The report also noted that such a move by Israel could jeopardize Washington’s standing with its Arab partners, complicating its regional relationships.

This latest development follows the decision by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia to formally recognize a Palestinian state, a shift that has stirred strong reactions in Israel.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has indicated he will wait until after his return from the United States to address the recognition decisions. He is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where the matter is expected to be discussed in depth.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates has also delivered warnings of its own, signaling that it might scale back its diplomatic relationship with Israel should annexation proceed, Reuters reported last week.

Abu Dhabi informed Netanyahu’s coalition earlier this month that extending sovereignty over West Bank territory would be a “red line.” While no specific retaliatory measures were spelled out, Emirati officials have reportedly weighed recalling their ambassador.

Those familiar with the UAE’s position said that a full rupture of relations was not under consideration, but admitted that ties have grown more fragile during nearly two years of conflict in Gaza.

An Israeli source noted that despite the tensions, officials in Yerushalayim believed relations with the UAE could be mended. The UAE, with its commercial weight and regional influence, is seen as the most significant of the Arab countries to have signed onto the Abraham Accords in 2020, alongside Bahrain and Morocco.

{Matzav.com}