US Secretary of State Pompeo to Saudi FM: consider normalizing ties with Israel

Pompeo said the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with the UAE and Bahrain reflect a changing dynamic in the region in which countries recognize the need for cooperation to generate prosperity

US Secretary of State Pompeo to Saudi FM: consider normalizing ties with Israel

State Department photo by Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain

US Secretary of State Pompeo called on Saudi Arabia to weigh normalizing ties with Israel, while also announcing that the US supports "robust" arms deals with Saudi Arabia. The comments were made in a meeting between Pompeo and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, at the State Department in Washington.     

Pompeo said that in his discussion with the Saudi foreign minister he mentioned the Abraham Accords and said "We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its relationships as well, and we want to thank them for the assistance they’ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far." The US secretary of state expressed hope that Saudi Arabia will encourage the Palestinian leaders and the Palestinian Authority to return to negotiations with Israel.   

Pompeo explained that the Abraham Accords between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain reflect a changing dynamic in the region in which countries recognize the need for cooperation to generate prosperity, and thus the US is trying to convince more countries to follow the same path. Reuters reported that Riyadh quietly acquiesced to the agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, but signaled that it is still not ready to act in such a manner.