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Short answer
Saudi Arabia says it stands with Palestine — but where was that support when it actually mattered? Before October 7th, they were ready to sign a normalization deal with Israel, and a Palestinian state was barely even mentioned. Now they talk big, but without real action, it still feels like empty words. And let’s not forget — they don’t even allow Palestinian protests or flags within their own borders. Supporting a cause only when it’s convenient isn’t real solidarity
Long answer
Looking at the facts, it’s hard to say it does. Before October 7th, Saudi Arabia wasn’t actively pushing for a Palestinian state in any meaningful way. Instead, they were deeply engaged in U.S.-brokered talks to normalize relations with Israel — something that would have seemed impossible just a few years before. This wasn’t speculation; in a Fox News interview in September 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman openly stated that Saudi Arabia and Israel were getting “closer every day.” And yet, a Palestinian state was not a central condition in those talks. Yes, it was mentioned occasionally, but there were no firm demands, no deadlines, and no concrete requirements tied to Palestinian rights or statehood. It didn’t appear to be a dealbreaker — more of a diplomatic formality than a real priority.
Then came October 7th, and suddenly the rhetoric shifted. Saudi leaders began insisting that normalization with Israel could not happen without progress toward a Palestinian state. But the question remains: where was this commitment when they had the power to make a real change?
To make things even clearer — Saudi Arabia doesn’t even allow Palestinian protests or the display of Palestinian flags within its borders. That’s not what real support looks like.
Given years of quiet cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel — from shared intelligence to Saudi airspace being opened to Israeli flights — it’s hard not to conclude that Saudi support for Palestine has, so far, been more symbolic than substantial. In short, the actions don’t quite match the words.
