Saudi Arabia likely to normalise ties with Israel before January 2025: US

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel will be established before the arrival of a new American President in January 2025.

Speaking at a news conference in Haiti, Blinken said that the normalisation process will begin with a ceasefire in Gaza, paving the way for Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel.

Blinken added that he remains hopeful that the issues between Saudi Arabia and Israel will be resolved before January, during the tenure of President Joe Biden. 

“I think if we can get a ceasefire in Gaza, there remains an opportunity through the balance of this administration to move forward on normalisation,” The Arab Weekly quoted Blinken as saying.

He also acknowledged that the exact timeline is uncertain but expressed confidence that it will happen.

The US Secretary of State's remarks come ahead of the US presidential election on November 5, which will see a new president replace Joe Biden in January 2025. 

Blinken's statement suggests that the Biden administration is working to secure a diplomatic achievement in the Middle East before the transition of power.

Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed fear of being assassinated due to his efforts to restore ties with Israel, according to US publication Politico.

He shared his concerns with US Congress members, citing the example of Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, who was killed after signing a peace treaty with Israel in the 1980s.

"The Saudi royal has mentioned to members of Congress that he’s putting his life in danger by pursuing a grand bargain with the U.S. and Israel that includes normalizing Saudi-Israeli ties," the publication reported.

"On at least one occasion, he has invoked Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian leader slain after striking a peace deal with Israel, asking what the U.S. did to protect Sadat," it added.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia maintained that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On the other hand, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby had said that Saudi Arabia had given a positive response to the US over normalising ties with Israel.