Officials do not rule out normalizing ties with Israel even under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions," the declaratory cabinet resolution states. "Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement," it continues.

The proposal includes a timeline for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, conditional on progress on key issues like settlements and security guarantees for Israel.

Under proposed deal, in exchange for the return of the captives, Israel would halt its military operation and release a yet-to-be-determined number of terrorists. The rounds of the deal are expected to take place over approximately two months, allowing Hamas to claim that Israel has ended the war as demanded. 

Among the suggestions of Biden's fellow Democrats is that any agreement include "meaningful" provisions to preserve the option of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One source noted that on the big issues there are no insurmountable gaps because the disagreements are not substantial, adding that American emphasis on the Palestinian aspect has been perceived as over the top.

“All sides have hammered out, I think, a basic framework for what we might be able to drive at,” White House official John Kirby says, amid ongoing efforts to bring the Sunni kingdom into the Abraham Accords.

Haim Katz is expected to take part in various events and forums during his two-day visit. He will also hold meetings with his various counterparts, with a focus on those from the region.

Israeli officials say that although there has been progress in the negotiations over a potential normalization agreement, difficulties still remain.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed Israeli nuclear experts to work on such a proposal as part of a potential normalization agreement with Riyadh.

Remark comes as President Joe Biden presses ahead with an effort to broker historic ties between the two regional powerhouses, Washington's top Middle East allies.

Israel's Knesset speaker Amir Ohana, who visited Morocco earlier this year, said Mayara's visit was supposed to be a highlight of the new relations. He said Israel wished Mayara “a speedy and full recovery.”

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen affixes a mezuzah on the embassy's doorpost in a joint ceremony with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

Sunday's announcement of the meeting prompted scattered protests in Tripoli and other towns in western Libya. Protesters stormed the foreign ministry headquarters to condemn the meeting, while others attacked and burned a residence for the prime minister in Tripoli, according to local reports.

State-owned China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has bid to build a nuclear plant in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, near the border with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the WSJ reports, citing Saudi officials familiar with the matter.

State Department comments come as National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby plays down a report in the Wall Street Journal that said the United States and Saudi Arabia had agreed on the broad contours.

In Wall Street Journal op-ed, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen says US nuclear umbrella could meet one of the key Saudi demands for joining the Abraham Accords.

Statement comes after Israel Hayom reports on the terms Israel would be willing to consider for such a normalization deal. US President Joe Biden recently dispatched his national security advisor to Riyadh to discuss a possible deal, and on Friday said a rapprochement "may be underway."

Statement made after NYT reports the White House "sees serious prospects for an accord" between Israel and Saudi Arabia if "significant progress" is made between Israel and Palestinians.