The Crown Prince and de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Tuesday said Israel has a “right” to a homeland, in a notable shift to the kingdom’s position on Palestine.
Saudi Arabia and Israel still have no formal diplomatic relations, but behind the scenes, improvements in their ties have accelerated in recent years.
Both countries see Iran as their biggest outside threat and the United States as their key ally, and both see danger from armed Islamist extremists.
Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians has long proved an obstacle to a full rapprochement, as Riyadh still supports their claim to sovereignty.
But now Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman —told the editor-in-chief of US news magazine The Atlantic — appeared to put the rival land claims on an equal footing.