Israel blocking Saudi FM visit to West Bank 'harms normalisation efforts': source

Israel’s refusal to allow Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat to meet with the Palestinian president could undermine normalisation efforts between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, Israeli media cited a Saudi source as saying.

On Saturday, Israel announced it would not permit a planned meeting in the occupied West Bank the following day, which was to include ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The ministers were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud’s visit to the West Bank would have been the first by a senior Saudi official in recent memory.

An Israeli official claimed the ministers intended to hold a “provocative meeting” aimed at promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"Israel made a mistake in its decision, and [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu’s behaviour is wrong. He is trying to protect himself to preserve his own interests," the Saudi royal family source said, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.

The source accused Netanyahu of lacking a genuine desire for peace and instead "stirring up trouble", adding that the intended Ramallah visit was meant to send a clear message to Israel that there would be no normalisation without a two-state solution.

"Saudi Arabia is reaching out for peace, while Israel pulls away," the source added.

The US has attempted for years to broker a normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, similar to the agreements reached in 2020 between Tel Aviv and three other Arab states.

However, Riyadh has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Israel until a sovereign Palestinian state is recognised - something Israel’s far-right government rejects.

After being denied entry to the West Bank, Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned Israel for its "extremism and refusal of any serious attempts at a peaceful pathway. It strengthens our resolve to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to confront this arrogance".

An international conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia is scheduled in New York from 17 to 20 June to discuss Palestinian statehood.

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed willingness to recognise an independent Palestinian state, following several European countries last year, describing it as "not only a moral duty, but a political necessity".

His remarks have angered Israeli and pro-Israel officials, with Israel warning Paris it would annexe more of the West Bank if it proceeds with recognition.