November 27, 2025 | 09:10 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), rejected President of the United States Donald Trump's request to normalize relations with Israel in their recent summit in Washington, according to an Axios report cited by Al Arabiya.
As per the U.S. media, Washington has been attempting to persuade Riyadh to join the pro-Israel regional peace agreement.
However, MBS firmly reiterated Saudi Arabia's long-held position that any normalization is contingent on Israel's acceptance of the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
"The Saudi Crown Prince dealt firmly with Trump’s request and held fast to his position," reported Axios, adding that two US officials described Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a "strong leader."
"During the Nov. 18 meeting, Trump was the one who raised the issue and pressed hard MBS to join the Abraham Accords," reported Axios, citing US officials.
"At that point the conversation got tense, the officials say," said the officials. "As Trump pressed, MBS pushed back," the report said.
Trump's Frustration
Previously, the White House, as reported by Farsnews, had informed the Saudi Crown Prince that Trump wanted concrete steps to involve the Sunni state in the normalization agreement with Israel.
Trump raised the issue at the beginning of the meeting and pressed MBS for a commitment. However, MBS reportedly declined, citing that the Saudi Arabian public is vehemently opposed to normalization following the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, even after the ceasefire agreed since October 10.
MBS told Trump that the timing was not right, emphasizing that the Saudi public would not accept such a move in the current conditions.
Although the Crown Prince reiterated that he is not fundamentally against normalization, he emphasized that any agreement would require Israel to accept a "non-negotiable, credible, and time-bound path" towards a Palestinian state.
Arab and U.S. officials told Axios that this position directly contradicts the current Israeli government's stance, which rejects such a process.
Sources familiar with the meeting said that Trump appeared frustrated when MBS declined.
One described the atmosphere as tense, saying, "The best way to say it is disappointment and irritation. The president really wants them to join the Abraham Accord. He tried very hard to talk him. It was an honest discussion. But MBS is a strong man. He stood his ground."
MBS arrived in Washington on an official working visit on November 18 at the direction of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, after receiving an invitation from President Trump. They held discussions at the White House amid what was widely described as a very warm welcome.
In the subsequent press conference, MBS reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's vision to resolve the Middle East conflict.
He emphasized that Saudi Arabia sought peace with Israel, Palestine, and the region as a whole, but only through a "clear plan" ensuring a real path towards a two-state solution.
Riyadh has repeatedly stressed the need for a fair resolution that begins with the formation of an independent Palestinian state and ultimately leads to comprehensive and lasting regional peace. Saudi Arabia has long positioned itself as a proponent of dialogue and peaceful solutions in the Middle East.
F-35 Jet Purchase
Tensions between MBS and Trump also emerged regarding military assurances. In a public statement, Trump informed MBS that he would supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 fighter jets similar to those currently provided to Israel.
However, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios that Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day to clarify that Saudi Arabia would receive a lower version.
Rubio also assured Netanyahu that Washington would uphold Israel's qualitative military edge as mandated by law.
"We told the Israelis we are committed to the QME and we are not going to violate it," said an official.
One significant omission in the discussion was the ongoing lawsuit filed by families of the September 11 attack victims, which was recently allowed to proceed by a U.S. judge.
The decision cited numerous pieces of evidence indicating Saudi involvement in the 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Trump chose not to raise this issue at all during his meeting with MBS.
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