Frustration bubbles among Palestinians over Israeli-Saudi normalization
In contrast to the Palestinian Authority’s position, Palestinian public opinion is mostly against the Saudi-Israeli normalization talks, as the PA seeks to obtain some political and economic gains.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — As the US-brokered talks on a potential Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement gain traction, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has yet to comment on the developments as it awaits the outcome.
Speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, a PLO official said that after the conclusion of the 2020 Abraham Accords, the Palestinian public sharply criticized Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel, namely the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Although the PA initially criticized the agreements, the official said PA President Mahmoud Abbas urged officials to refrain from publicly bashing the deals to avoid harming the PA’s relations with the Arab countries. “This would explain the silence currently prevailing in the Palestinian leadership’s corridors regarding the Saudi-Israeli talks,” the official added.
It seems that the PA has also kept mum on the current Saudi-Israeli talks amid reports that Saudi Arabia is pushing Israel to accept some concessions in favor of the Palestinians before reaching any normalization deal with the Jewish state.
Radio silence from PA
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