Saudi crown prince says in rare interview ‘every day we get closer’ to normalization with Israel

By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says in an interview with Fox News that aired Wednesday that ongoing negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalized relations between both countries “get closer” every day but that treatment of Palestinians is “very important.” Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States in which it would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear program. The Saudis have said any deal would require major progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, which is a hard sell for the most religious and nationalist government in Israel’s history.