Prospects of Saudi ties to Israel elusive as Trump seeks $1 trillion bonanza

Reuters ^ | May 11, 2025 9:02 AM UTC | Samia Nakhoul, Humeyra Pamuk and Alexander Cornwell

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Summary

• Saudi-Israel normalization stalled due to Gaza conflict
• Focus on $1 trillion investments, arms deals, and AI collaborations
• Trump’s visit aims to counter China’s rising clout in region

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 11 (Reuters) - When U.S. President Donald Trump lands in Riyadh on Tuesday, he will be greeted with opulent ceremonies, gilded palaces and the prospect of $1 trillion in investments. But, the raging war in Gaza has denied him one goal he has long craved: Saudi-Israel normalisation.

Behind the scenes, U.S. officials are quietly pressing Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - one of Saudi Arabia's preconditions for any re-start of normalization talks, said two Gulf sources close to official circles and a U.S. official.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told an audience at the Israeli embassy in Washington this week that he imminently expected progress on expanding the Abraham Accords, a set of deals brokered by Trump in his first term under which Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco recognised Israel.

“We think we will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, which we hope will yield progress by next year,” Witkoff said in a video of his speech. He is expected to accompany Trump on his visit to the Middle East.

However, opposition by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a permanent stop to the war or to the creation of a Palestinian state make progress on similar talks with Riyadh unlikely, two of the sources said.

Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel as legitimate, meaning the Middle East's two most advanced economies and military powers do not have formal diplomatic ties. Supporters of normalising relations say it would bring stability and prosperity to the region, while countering Iran's influence.

Establishing ties has become especially toxic for...

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Unfortunately, Saudi money has “invested” billions already in American ... universities. It’s part of whey they’re teaching to destroy our civilization and quit using American oil.