Saudi-Israeli Relations: A Shifting Landscape Amid Gaza’s Tragedy
The Ambitious Push for Normalization Faces Roadblocks as Regional Tensions Escalate and Public Sentiment Shifts.
Watan-Saudi-Israeli relations are currently experiencing a state of “forbidden love,” amid rapidly unfolding regional events that have upended the calculations of all parties involved. Before October 7, the signs were clear: a normalization deal between Riyadh and Tel Aviv was closer than ever. Shuttle diplomacy, American mediation, and preparatory statements all pointed toward an imminent announcement of a strategic alliance.
But the bloody scenes in Gaza changed the equation, turning the normalization project into a “postponed diplomatic corpse.” The Israeli massacres in the Strip and daily violations against Palestinians brought the Arab street back to the forefront and forced Riyadh to pause its decision—fearing a wave of public anger that could jeopardize its ambitious “Vision 2030.”
At the same time, Saudi Arabia chose to ease tensions with Iran through political channels, making the Iranian threat—which was previously used to justify closer ties with Israel—less urgent. This undermined one of the key pillars quietly supporting the path to normalization.
عشق ممنوع وُئد قبل ولادته.. غـ*ـر&ة تشتعل، #السعودية تهدّئ مع #ايران، وتخشى على رؤيتها من انفجار شعبي.
هل انتهت قصّة التـ ـطبـ ـيع بين الرياض وتل أبيب؟ pic.twitter.com/szSUpuPeit
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) April 20, 2025
Saudi-Israeli Normalization: A Dream Shattered by Gaza’s Bloodshed
From Tel Aviv’s side, the situation wasn’t much better. Israel today is more extreme, more preoccupied with its internal security, and less open to discussing issues like the two-state solution or concessions on East Jerusalem—making the deal, once described as “historic,” vulnerable to being frozen or even collapsing altogether.
Voices in Saudi Arabia rejecting any rapprochement with the occupation have dominated social media, with intense pressure on Saudi leadership following the shocking images from Gaza, which coincided with unofficial Israeli-Gulf meetings.
As the political landscape transforms into an open arena of change, many questions remain unanswered: Will Mohammed bin Salman dare to ignore the public mood? Can Netanyahu proceed with normalization while his government continues to crush Palestinians? Or was it all just a fleeting affair that was buried before it could be officially announced?
In the end, Palestine remains the central dilemma of the Middle East, and normalization a dream still “hanging on the wing of a broken plane,” weighed down by Gaza’s blood and the pulse of the people.
