Israel, Saudi Arabia closer to normalisation deal: Report

Israel and Saudi Arabia have reached a breakthrough in talks around normalising relations, Haaretz reported on Tuesday, adding that the normalisation could be related to an elusive ceasefire deal that would bring about an end to Israel's war on Gaza.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told Haaretz that rather than Israel agreeing to Saudi Arabia's demand for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the two sides agreed that Israel would give a vague commitment on a "path towards Palestinian statehood".

However, Axios reporter Barak Ravid on X cited a Saudi official who denied the report, saying there had been such a breakthrough.

"The notion that the kingdom's leadership has somehow modified its longstanding commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is equally baseless," the Saudi official said.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue to work towards ending the war in Gaza and helping the Palestinian people achieve their right to an independent state."

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