Saudi Crown Prince Says Normalisation Of Relations To Israel ‘Getting Closer’ (image-www.twitter/AlNassrFC_EN)

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, widely known as MBS, affirmed that his country is getting closer to normalisation of relations with Israel in an interview with US broadcaster Fox. A similar trend is being followed in other gulf countries too, says Al Jazeera.

“Every day we get closer,” says MBS in the interview which was aired on Wednesday. The crown prince also mentioned that measures will be taken to resolve the issues between Israel and Palestine. The negotiation also includes US security guarantees and civilian nuclear help that Riyadh has sought.

“We got to see where we go. We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians, get Israel as a player in the Middle East,” he said, speaking in English.

The interview was aired shortly after President Joe Biden met Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. They both were present in the New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

MBS has made a notable statement regarding Iran’s nuclear weapon deal. He said if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon then Saudi Arabia have to get one too. Iran has been a centre of international suspicions about its nuclear programme for years. But Tehran had denied seeking nuclear weapons.

Saudi Arabia, along with Israel had a tattered relationship with Iran. The relationship improved after both the countries agreed to restore the diplomatic relations in March.

In the meeting, Israel and US, both the countries pledged to work together towards Israeli- Saudi normalisation. Biden and Netanyahu shared the same opinion as that of MBS on Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu’s office said afterward that the meeting “mostly dealt with ways to establish an historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which could greatly advance an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and facilitate the establishment of an economic corridor to link Asia, the Middle East and Europe.”

Saudi Arabia and US relationship wasn’t on good terms, following the allegation against the crown prince’s involvement in the killing of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But it was later patched up.

The interview with Fox’s anchor, Bret Baier, was the royal’s first appearance on US TV since 2019.