Saudi-US deal possible without Israel, US official indicates

A high-ranking United States official on Thursday, May 8, 2025, reportedly cautioned that Washington may proceed with its diplomatic agreement with Saudi Arabia without involving Israel.

He said the condition of reversal of this decision is unless Israel shifts its current stance, according to coverage by Israeli media outlets.

As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the unnamed U.S. official reportedly held a meeting on Monday with families of Israeli hostages who are still being held in Gaza.

During this discussion, the official conveyed growing dissatisfaction from President Donald Trump regarding Israel’s reluctance to engage constructively in ceasefire negotiations.

The report, published on Wednesday, said Trump is considering moving forward with the Saudi agreement even if Israel continues to resist the ceasefire plan.

Trump is scheduled to travel to the Middle East next week, with planned visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Amid these developments, Israel’s ambassador to the United States is reportedly urging the White House to include a brief stop in Israel as part of the president’s itinerary.

This is according to two Israeli sources cited by an online news agency.

During Monday’s meeting, the U.S. official reportedly warned that Israel may face “a much heavier price” if it continues to oppose a ceasefire deal.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the official stated, “President Trump is determined to move forward with a significant deal with Saudi Arabia, even without Israeli involvement.”

The official characterized the current ceasefire being discussed with Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a first step.

He implied that Israel’s continued resistance could ultimately exclude it from broader regional agreements.

“If Israel doesn’t come to its senses,” the official added, “even the ‘Deal of the Millennium’ will proceed without it.”

Relatives of the captives expressed hope that the meeting would help galvanize more international pressure on the Israeli government to act decisively.

Some of those in attendance were reportedly shocked by the candid and forceful tone used by the U.S. official.

This is because of the longstanding close relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.

The Trump administration has made clear that its broader regional strategy involves reshaping Middle East alliances, with a major focus on formalizing diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“We hope Israel will board the historic train that has already left the station,” the U.S. official was quoted as saying.

“But the U.S. will not wait at the platform.”

The official also echoed the concerns of the hostage families that ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza could further endanger those still in captivity, reinforcing the urgency for a negotiated ceasefire.

What Is the Proposed U.S.-Saudi-Israel Agreement?

The agreement in question is a proposed trilateral deal among the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

This is expected to normalize diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv – an initiative the U.S. hopes to broker as a landmark geopolitical achievement.

This would represent a significant expansion of the normalization efforts that began with the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Under the terms being discussed, Saudi Arabia would officially recognize Israel.

This will supposedly set aside its longstanding precondition that Israel must first fully withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories, a central tenet of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

In exchange, the United States would offer Saudi Arabia a mutual defense pact and access to advanced American weaponry.

Additionally, Washington aims to persuade Riyadh to reduce its increasing political and economic engagement with global powers like China and Russia.

Another critical element of the proposed deal is U.S. support for a Saudi civil nuclear program.

However, the two sides have yet to resolve key disagreements, especially regarding Saudi Arabia’s desire to enrich uranium domestically, an issue with significant proliferation concerns.

Initially, Saudi Arabia insisted on substantive progress toward a two-state solution for Palestinians.

However, more recent reports suggest Riyadh may be willing to settle for less.

Analysts say that instead of demanding significant concessions, Saudi leaders may agree to symbolic measures, such as a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank.

This is supposedly on the premise that the U.S. delivers sufficiently on other aspects of the agreement.

As talks progress and tensions rise, all parties face a narrowing window to reach consensus, with the U.S. signaling it may advance its strategic interests in the region even if Israel refuses to cooperate.

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