Secret Meeting in Desert Between Israeli, Saudi Leaders Failed to Reach Normalization Agreement

In the weeks before the U.S. election, Prince Mohammed’s side privately expressed willingness to accept most elements of a peace plan laid out publicly by Mr. Trump. Under the plan, Israelis would receive much of what they have long sought, including immediate expansion of Israel’s permanent borders into occupied territory. It also required steep concessions from the Palestinians, like demilitarization and Israeli control of all security arrangements from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.