(MENAFN) Taking the latest step in the kingdom's path moving towards normalization of diplomatic relations with the Tel Aviv regime, Saudi Arabia's young crown prince said in an interview published Monday that Israelis, alongside Palestinians, "have the right to have their own land," the New York Times reported.
"I believe that each people, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation. I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land," said bin Salman during an interview with the Atlantic published on Monday.
"But we have to have a peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and to have normal relations," he added.
Commenting on the economic benefits the kingdom could get from the Zionist entity, he said
"Israel is a big economy compared to their size, and it's a growing economy," noting; "of course there are a lot of interests we share with Israel, and if there is peace, there would be a lot of interest between Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and countries like Egypt and Jordan."
On Friday, bin Salman met with the leaders of a number of pro-Israeli lobbying groups during his tour of the United States.
Two Arab countries, Jordan and Egypt, have peace treaties with Israel, but most Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, do not recognize Israel. However, there have been recent signs of a warming between Israel and the conservative kingdom, whose aging monarch, King Salman, has already handed many leadership responsibilities over to the crown prince.
The Israeli military's chief-of-staff, Gadi Eizenkot, recently said the regime was ready to share intelligence with Saudi Arabia on Iran.
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