Saudi Arabia on Tuesday told the US that Riyadh would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
“There will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X.
The kingdom also made clear that normalisation was dependent on the cessation of Israeli “aggression” and the withdrawal of all forces from the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that President Joe Biden's administration was still working on bringing about normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“We certainly received positive feedback from both sides that they're willing to continue to have those discussions,” he said.
The kingdom issued the statement reaffirming its position to Washington on the Palestinian issue following Mr Kirby's comments.
Normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia has been under discussion since the UAE and Bahrain established ties with Israel in 2020 through the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia also wrote that UN Security Council permanent members should “expedite the recognition of the Palestinian state … so that the Palestinian people can obtain their legitimate rights and so that a comprehensive and just peace is achieved for all”.
However, talks stalled after the war in Gaza began, with the Israeli bombardment killing more than 27,400 people so far.
Israel launched military operations in Gaza after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages in an attack in October last year.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
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The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
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Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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