Algerian President open to ties with Israel if Palestinian state is established

In a significant shift from Algeria’s long-standing position, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has expressed openness to normalizing relations with Israel—provided a permanent Palestinian state is established. His remarks mark a departure from Algeria’s historical opposition to recognizing Israel.

Tebboune made these comments in an interview with the French newspaper L’Opinion, as reported by The New Arab.

"This aligns with the position of my predecessors, Presidents Chadli and Bouteflika, who had no issue with Israel," he reportedly stated.

However, his statement was met with swift backlash from Algeria’s main opposition group, the Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace (MSP). 

In a statement released on Sunday, the MSP denounced Israel as an "aggressive occupier" seeking to undermine Palestinian rights and firmly rejected "any settlement or normalization projects with the Zionist entity."

The opposition party also claimed that Algeria, like other Arab nations, is under pressure from the United States to normalize relations with Israel, particularly during the Trump administration.

For years, Israel has sought to improve ties with Maghreb countries. Mauritania established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999, while Morocco followed in 2020 after securing U.S. recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya have historically opposed recognizing Israel. However, signs of shifting attitudes have emerged, particularly in Algeria and Tunisia. In Tunisia, President Kais Saied reportedly blocked a proposed law aimed at criminalizing normalization with Israel.