Israel won't let Saudi Arabia open Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen made a statement on 103FM radio on Sunday morning. DUMITRU DORU/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Israel said it would not allow Saudi Arabia to open a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem after the appointment of their first ambassador to Palestine on Saturday.

The appointment will take place. despite Saudi Arabia's talks with the US over a delicate deal to normalize relations with Israel.

Israel's Foreign Ministry was bypassed as new ambassador Naif al-Sudairi's credentials were presented to the Palestinian Authority in a ceremony in Jordan.

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The non-resident envoy, who is ambassador to Jordan and cousin of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will also become non-resident consul general in Jerusalem.

The use of the name Jerusalem in his title is a direct nod to Saudi Arabia's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, not Israel.

Eli Cohen, Israel's foreign minister, told the country's 103FM radio station Sunday morning that they «will not allow» new Saudi ambassador to Palestine to open a consulate in Jerusalem.

No normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel

Saudi Arabia has long been a key supporter of Palestine and their statehood aspirations. Analysts widely see the ambassador's appointment as a way to show that they will not bow to Israeli concessions on the Palestinians in a potential normalization deal that the US has long sought to broker.

The Palestinians have expressed concern that a possible normalization relations between the two powers will be the death knell for their hopes for a future state structure.

«Saudi Arabia will not take formal steps to normalize relations with Israel that would undermine Saudi Arabia's stated commitment to the question of Palestine,» said Lina Khatib, director of the SOAS Middle East Institute. «The appointment of a Saudi ambassador to Palestine is a signal that this commitment is ongoing.»

While the complex deal to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel seems far off, especially amid Saudi Arabia's recent rehabilitation of Iran, some analysts suggest that appointing an ambassador could be a way to advance their own demands for any future deal.

In talks with the US, the Saudis are asking Israel for significant concessions over the creation of a Palestinian state, according to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal. There are also concerns about Saudi Arabia's growing relationship with China.

Senior members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition are expected to draw a line under any concessions on the Palestinians.