A complex Saudi-Israel normalisation deal still appears to be far off
Israel has said it will not allow Saudi Arabia to open a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem after their first-ever ambassador to Palestine was appointed on Saturday.
The appointment comes despite Saudi talks with the US about a delicate deal to normalise relations with Israel.
The Israeli foreign ministry was bypassed as the credentials for Nayef al-Sudairi, the new ambassador, were presented to the Palestinian Authority at a ceremony in Jordan.
The non-resident envoy, who is the ambassador to Jordan and a cousin of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will also become the non-resident Jerusalem consul general.