Saudi Arabia’s King Salman told US President Donald Trump in a phone call that the kingdom was eager to achieve a fair and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue.
The leaders spoke by phone following the historic US-brokered accord last month. The United Arab Emirates has become the third Arab state to normalize ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.
King Salman told Trump he appreciated US efforts to support peace. He said Saudi Arabia wanted to see a fair and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue based on the Arab Peace Initiative proposed by the kingdom in 2002.
Under the proposal, Arab nations have offered Israel normalized ties in return for a statehood deal with the Palestinians. Arab nations have also offered full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel.
However, this month the kingdom allowed flights between UAE and Israel, including by Israeli airliners, to use its airspace.
White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner has said he hopes another Arab country normalizes ties within months.
No other Arab state has said so far it is considering following the UAE.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan also rejected any possibility that Pakistan could establish relations with Israel.
King Salman’s son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Kushner discussed the need for the Palestinians and the Israelis to resume negotiations and reach a lasting peace after Kushner visited the UAE last month.
The officials also told Palestinians it was now time for them to negotiate peace, for US, Israeli and UAE are going to normalize a deal.
The UAE-Israel deal was met by overwhelming Palestinian opposition. Palestinians are worried that it would weaken an Arab position that called for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory.
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