Tel Aviv (Agencies) July 11, 2025 — In a landmark diplomatic gesture, Abdulaziz Al-Khamis, a prominent Saudi journalist and political commentator with close ties to the royal court, made a rare public visit to Israel’s Knesset on July 9, where he joined a session of the newly formed Lobby for Advancing a Regional Security Arrangement. His participation marks a significant moment in the evolving discourse around Saudi-Israeli normalization, especially amid ongoing regional tensions and the protracted Gaza conflict.
Speaking in English before Israeli lawmakers, Al-Khamis emphasized that normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel must be part of a broader regional realignment, not merely a bilateral agreement. He stressed that the fate of Palestinians in Gaza remains central to Riyadh’s position, stating, “No state can expect to be impressed when our people next door are encaged and disenfranchised”.
Al-Khamis advocated for the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state, governed by a technocratic administration and supported by regional stakeholders. He called on Israel to commit not only to security but to coexistence, warning that failure to seize the current diplomatic window could cost Israel its standing in the Arab world. “Power unused for peace is power squandered,” he said, urging Israeli leaders to translate military dominance into a vision for regional stability.
The Knesset session also featured Syrian activist Shadi Martini, who relayed that Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa views peace with Israel as a “once-in-a-century opportunity.” Martini’s remarks, alongside Al-Khamis’s, reflect a growing chorus of voices from Arab civil society pushing for pragmatic engagement with Israel, contingent on meaningful progress for Palestinians.
Al-Khamis’s visit comes amid renewed speculation that Saudi Arabia may resume normalization talks with Israel, a process that was reportedly near completion before the October 7 Hamas attacks derailed negotiations. Saudi officials have since reiterated that any future agreement must include a credible path to Palestinian sovereignty.
The session was hosted by Israeli opposition lawmakers and supported by the Coalition for Regional Security, signaling a shift in tone from hardline rhetoric to strategic diplomacy. Al-Khamis concluded his remarks with a call to “redraw the map — geopolitically, economically, morally,” positioning normalization as a bold step toward a future defined by cooperation rather than conflict.