Netanyahu reacts to Trump’s Saudi deal condition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the potential inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords as a “historic” step for the Middle East, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that a proposed US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement would depend on the Kingdom formally joining the normalization pact.

According to Reuters, Netanyahu shared his reaction in a post on X, calling Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords a major breakthrough that could reshape the region’s future and strengthen peace and security across the Middle East.

“Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords would be a historic and tremendous development for peace and stability in the region,” Netanyahu said, without directly referring to the proposed civilian nuclear agreement between Washington and Riyadh.

His remarks came shortly after President Trump revealed that the United States is prepared to move forward with a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia—but only if the Kingdom officially becomes part of the Abraham Accords, the US-backed normalization framework that established diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab nations.

Trump’s condition has immediately placed renewed global attention on the long-discussed possibility of Saudi-Israeli normalization, an issue widely regarded as one of the most significant diplomatic challenges in the Middle East.

While Netanyahu welcomed the idea of Saudi Arabia joining the agreement, he carefully avoided commenting on Trump’s specific proposal linking the nuclear deal to normalization. His statement instead focused on the broader regional benefits that such a move could bring.

The Abraham Accords, first signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly maintained that any formal normalization with Israel would depend on progress toward resolving the Palestinian issue, making the latest US proposal particularly significant.

Analysts say Trump’s latest announcement could revive diplomatic negotiations that had slowed amid regional tensions and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, they also caution that Riyadh’s position remains closely tied to broader political and security considerations.

Whether the proposed civilian nuclear agreement can pave the way for Saudi Arabia’s entry into the Abraham Accords remains uncertain. Still, Netanyahu’s swift endorsement highlights Israel’s strong interest in expanding the landmark agreement and bringing the region’s largest Arab economy into the normalization framework, a move that could significantly alter the Middle East’s diplomatic landscape.