Riyadh (TDI): Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said its long-held position that Palestinians must have their own independent state was firm and not open to negotiation.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry statement came shortly after President Donald Trump said he wants the United States to own the Gaza Strip after all Palestinians are displaced from there and sent to other nations, where settlements will be constructed for them.
Saudi Arabia’s position has been a longstanding one with its leaders repeatedly demanding justice for Palestinians, who they say deserve a state of their own alongside Israel as a way to find enduring solution to the decades long conflict.
Saudi Arabia Links Israel Ties to Palestinian State
Saudi leaders have repeatedly said any formal ties between the Kingdom and Israel hinge on the creation of a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
The ministry statement underlined a speech by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Shura Council on September 18, 2024, where he stressed that the kingdom will continue its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel without it.
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The crown prince expressed a similar sentiment during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, where he emphasized the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state and demanded an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
He also urged more nations to recognize the State of Palestine, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing the global community to support the rights of Palestinians, which were expressed in the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by considering Palestine eligible for full membership of the world body.
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“Saudi Arabia reaffirms its firm rejection of any violations of Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, territorial annexation, and efforts to displace the Palestinian people,” the statement added.
