US-Saudi
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on October 14, 2023.
  • Hamas' attacks on Israel on October 7 aimed at derailing Saudi-Israel talks, analysts say. 
  • Israel's attacks on Gaza have sparked fury in the region, imperiling years of diplomacy.
  • But Saudi and UAE leaders say they remain committed to normalizing ties. 

In early October, President Joe Biden seemed poised to achieve a historic prize: normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful country in the Middle East. 

The discussions were part of a process which began in 2020 under President Donald Trump, when Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates began formal diplomatic relations with Israel, bringing economic and military benefits.