WASHINGTON: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said in an interview with Fox News that ongoing negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalised relations between both countries “get closer” every day but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved.

Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States in which it would normalise relations with Israel in exchange for a US defence pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear programme. 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.

Widely known as MBS, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader was asked during an interview on “Special Report with Bret Baier” airing Wednesday what it would take to normalise relations with Israel and answered that the Biden administration supports that happening.

“For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part,” he said. In excerpts released ahead of the broadcast, he added that there had been “good negotiations” so far.

“We got to see where we go,” he said. “We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians, get Israel as a player in the Middle East.”

The prince denied reports that the talks had been suspended, saying “every day, we get closer”.