West Bank Unrest Poses Challenges for Israel-Saudi Deal, Blinken Warns

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that the ongoing unrest in the West Bank has made it much tougher, if not impossible, for the US to broker a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Blinken stated that the turmoil in the West Bank could hinder efforts to deepen existing agreements and expand them to include Saudi Arabia. The recent Israeli settlement expansion and settler rampages have also impacted Saudi normalization efforts, as the Saudis have emphasized the need for a significant gesture to the Palestinians. Blinken urged Israel to hold those responsible for the settler rampages accountable and warned that failing to grant Palestinians sovereignty would lead to further security problems for Israel. Additionally, Blinken stated that there is currently no new nuclear agreement on the table with Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.