Saudis Put Israel Normalization on Hold in Blow to US Goals

Saudi Arabia has paused diplomacy to normalize ties with Israel amid the violence between Hamas militants and Israeli forces, people familiar with the matter said, in a major blow to President Joe Biden’s ambitions for the Middle East.

Saudi officials communicated Riyadh’s position to the US in recent days, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private talks. They described the move as a pause and not as an end to the diplomacy. A U.S. official, who also asked not to be identified, said the administration continues to be in touch with the Saudis and hasn’t been told that the initiative was being paused.

Suspending the talks runs counter to the Biden administration’s push to proceed with normalization talks even in the wake of the latest violence, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people last weekend.