Roadblock to normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel is two-state solution: Ex-CIA | Wilnesh News

Former CIA Director David Petraeus said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was currently “unattainable,” adding that it was also the “biggest obstacle” to normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Petraeus, now chairman of KKR Global Institute, told CNBC’s Dan Murphy that “Israel’s strong commitment and strong commitment to a two-state solution” is the biggest obstacle to plans to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel as a state and has refused to do so since the Jewish nation gained independence in 1948.

Reaching a diplomatic agreement between America’s two most important allies in the Middle East is one of U.S. President Joe Biden’s top foreign policy priorities.

But October 7th changed everything. The Palestinian militant group Hamas infiltrated Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping dozens more.

In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which Hamas has controlled since 2007. .

Saudi Arabia’s official position is that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless it recognizes an independent Palestinian state.

“Saudi Arabia has communicated to the U.S. government its firm position that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless it recognizes an independent Palestinian state,” Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

UN lists Israel as occupying power in Palestinian territoriesOccupation and annexation following the 1967 Six-Day War remain violations of international law.

Petraeus said that while a two-state solution would have a “significant impact” on the region, it was “not yet realistic.”

The two-state solution refers to the broad concept of creating two independent states: one for Israel and one for Palestine, in order to achieve peace between the two countries.

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his opposition to the two-state solution, first proposed by the Oslo Accords and supported by many international players.

“The two-state solution that people are talking about is basically going to be the biggest reward for terrorists,” he told Sarah Eisen.

Netanyahu stressed that the Gaza Strip would be “immediately taken over by Hamas and Iran,” arguing instead that Israel retains “responsibility for the overall security” of the Gaza enclave.

Petraeus acknowledged that the United States has repeatedly tried to withdraw from the Middle East – as demonstrated by its efforts to withdraw troops in Afghanistan – but it has always been “sucked back.”

“This region is so important to the world, to the global economy,” he said.

“When bad things happen in the Middle East, it often triggers violence, extremism, instability and, in some cases, a tsunami of refugees not only pouring into our neighbors in the region, but all the way into our most important countries. .

Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are also in Saudi Arabia, which makes Saudi Arabia play a crucial role in the Muslim world on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman once said in an interview, main sticking point What prompted this normalization was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

– CNBC’s Joanna Tan, Ruxandra Iordache and Natasha Turak contributed to this report.