U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said yesterday Thursday that he hopes President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn in and take office on Jan. 20, will continue the outgoing Democratic administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, admitting that this will not be achieved during Joe Biden’s tenure.

“We may see a future in which Israel is fully integrated into the region, has normalized its relations with Saudi Arabia and other powers with which it has not yet done so,” the U.S. diplomatic chief told MSNBC.

Riyadh has suspended negotiations with Washington on a deal that would have included normalization of relations with Israel after war broke out in the Gaza Strip, triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented assault on the southern part of Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.

Normalization requires an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and a process “that will allow the Palestinians to acquire a state, which is their right,” Blinken said.

However, recognition of a Palestinian state is a “very complicated” issue, the U.S. secretary of state said, noting that both Israelis and Palestinians have deep “traumas” because of the war that has been going on for 441st day.

“I hope we will get as far as we can, but we won’t be finished” before Donald Trump takes office, he continued.

The next administration “can decide how it wants to proceed,” he added.

The kingdom has never recognized Israel. It was not involved in the so-called Abraham agreements, which were negotiated by Washington in 2020.

Under these agreements, Saudi Arabia’s neighbors, notably Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have established formal relations with Israel, as has Morocco.

Blinken called the signing of the Abraham agreements during the Republican former and future president’s first term “a very good” development.

“Now there’s an opportunity – and I know this is something that (President-elect) (Trump) will focus on – to expand the implementation of these with the Saudis,” he added.

In September, the crown prince and de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, said his country would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established, condemning the “crimes” of the Israeli armed forces in the Palestinian territories.

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government categorically reject the establishment of a Palestinian state.