Saudi Arabia Signals Its Opposition to Normalisation if Zionism Is Used as an Insult
Saudi discourse framing ‘Zionism’ negatively underscores Riyadh’s conditional stance on joining the Abraham Accords and the ongoing link to a Palestinian solution
Saudi Arabia’s readiness to enter a full normalisation agreement with Israel under the framework of the Abraham Accords appears to remain constrained by deep-seated political and societal sensitivities, particularly around how Zionism is portrayed in public discourse.
Across Arabic-language media and social platforms earlier this year, a coordinated surge in anti-Zionist rhetoric underscored the continuing potency of the term as a negative symbol for many Saudis and broader Arab audiences.
Analysts argue that this reflects not only popular sentiment but also limits on how far Saudi authorities can publicly embrace normalisation without alienating key domestic constituencies and regional allies.
Saudi officials have pushed back against characterisations that Riyadh rejects peace with Jews or engages in antisemitism, clarifying that their objections are political and tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than to Jewish identity itself.
Nonetheless, Saudi discourse continues to treat Zionism as synonymous with objectionable policies and actions, a framing that opinion writers contend is incompatible with what the Abraham Accords were designed to achieve.
To date, the kingdom has not formally joined the Accords, and senior Saudi figures have reiterated that any normalisation must be anchored in a credible and irreversible path to Palestinian statehood, reflecting longstanding Arab League consensus and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
The contrast with Gulf neighbours such as the United Arab Emirates — which normalised ties with Israel under the original Abraham Accords and undertook public efforts to contextualise Zionism as part of a national and regional reality — highlights different regional approaches to peace diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia’s cautious posture is informed by both domestic public opinion, which remains sceptical of normalisation without a Palestinian settlement, and by broader geopolitical considerations tied to its leadership role in the Arab and Muslim world.
While economic and strategic cooperation with the United States and other partners continues to advance, the kingdom’s leaders have underscored that achieving sustainable peace will require tangible progress toward Palestinian statehood, a condition they argue is foundational to any enduring Saudi-Israeli accord.
Across Arabic-language media and social platforms earlier this year, a coordinated surge in anti-Zionist rhetoric underscored the continuing potency of the term as a negative symbol for many Saudis and broader Arab audiences.
Analysts argue that this reflects not only popular sentiment but also limits on how far Saudi authorities can publicly embrace normalisation without alienating key domestic constituencies and regional allies.
Saudi officials have pushed back against characterisations that Riyadh rejects peace with Jews or engages in antisemitism, clarifying that their objections are political and tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than to Jewish identity itself.
Nonetheless, Saudi discourse continues to treat Zionism as synonymous with objectionable policies and actions, a framing that opinion writers contend is incompatible with what the Abraham Accords were designed to achieve.
To date, the kingdom has not formally joined the Accords, and senior Saudi figures have reiterated that any normalisation must be anchored in a credible and irreversible path to Palestinian statehood, reflecting longstanding Arab League consensus and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
The contrast with Gulf neighbours such as the United Arab Emirates — which normalised ties with Israel under the original Abraham Accords and undertook public efforts to contextualise Zionism as part of a national and regional reality — highlights different regional approaches to peace diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia’s cautious posture is informed by both domestic public opinion, which remains sceptical of normalisation without a Palestinian settlement, and by broader geopolitical considerations tied to its leadership role in the Arab and Muslim world.
While economic and strategic cooperation with the United States and other partners continues to advance, the kingdom’s leaders have underscored that achieving sustainable peace will require tangible progress toward Palestinian statehood, a condition they argue is foundational to any enduring Saudi-Israeli accord.
