Claim of Saudi-Israeli Normalization Surfaces Amid Regional Diplomacy

Mike Evans, an evangelical leader and ally of Donald Trump, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is prepared to recognize Israel. Evans claimed the crown prince pointed to King Salman as the obstacle and used harsh language about Palestinians, while also asserting that Riyadh opposes turning Jerusalem into a city with two capitals. A Saudi source, however, said the kingdom would normalize relations with Israel only if there were an irreversible path toward a Palestinian state. The statement underscores the central role of the Palestinian question in any possible Saudi-Israeli breakthrough. Trump also said Middle East countries should join the Abraham Accords if an agreement is reached with Iran. The remarks add to mounting speculation over how regional alignments could shift alongside wider diplomatic talks.