Saudi Arabia “doesn’t give a damn” about the Palestinian cause, a former Israeli security advisor has said, as long as it can cement a deal with Israel against Iran.

The Kingdom is willing to accept almost any kind of Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former defence minister Yaacov Nagal said in an interview with The Telegraph.

“They just have to say there is an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, they don’t care, they don’t give a damn about what will be in the agreement,” Mr Nagel said.

Trump: Israelis and Palestinians are 'reaching for peace'

“They need to say there is an agreement in order to go for next steps.”

In recent months, relations between Riyadh and Tehran have deteriorated - while Saudi Arabia and Israel’s relationship, united by their common foe of Iran, appears to be warming.

Establishing diplomatic relations would please US President Donald Trump, who counts the two countries as among his strongest allies against the perceived threat from Tehran.

Brokering a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is one of the Trump administration’s only clear foreign policy goals to date.

While the US seeks to unite Saudi Arabia and other Arab states with Israel against Iran, many Middle Eastern countries are reluctant to get too close to the Israelis without progress on the Palestinian issue.

Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Show all 8 1 /8 Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Protesters wave Palestinian flags and carry a defaced photo of Theresa May and Arthur Balfour AP Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration A young protester holds a sign reading 'UK government should hang it's head in shame...' REUTERS Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Palestinians participate in a march to protest the 100th anniversary of Britain's Balfour Declaration AFP/Getty Images Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Protesters participate in the march AFP/Getty Images Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Protesters gather in the centre of the West Bank city of Ramallah AFP/Getty Images Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Palestinians protest against the Balfour Declaration on its 100th anniversary EPA Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Palestinians protest EPA Palestinians protest the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Palestinian protesters burn a mock of Prime Minister Theresa May and Arthur James Balfour EPA

Saudi leaders themselves have to date not committed to formally normalising relations with the Jewish state.