Saudi Arabia again reaffirmed its stance that there will no normalization relations with Israel without an established Sovereign Palestinian State.
This refutes the claim by 47th US President, Donald Trump, that Riyadh had dropped the clamour for a separate and independent Palestinian State.
The Daily Crucible reports that the radical Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had expressed optimism about a likely peace deal with Riyadh during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday night.
“I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen,” Netanyahu said, adding that both he and Trump were committed to achieving it.
During the news conference, which reported hours earlier by The Daily Crucible, Trump said that he had discussed a proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza with other Middle Eastern leaders, claiming they were supportive of the idea. “The other leaders love the idea,” he said.
Trump also said that the United States would take over the war- ravaged Gaza strip, rebuild and make it economically viable after the Palestinians have been moved and resettled elsewhere in the Middle East.
The Daily Crucible reports that US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have backed Israel and Saudi Arabia having diplomatic relations but Riyadh halted tentative talks on the matter early in the Gaza conflict and hardened its rhetoric as the war raged on.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Riyadh stood her ground, saying there can be a normalised relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The reckoning of the Riyadh, you can’t have without the other in place.
The statement issued by the Saudi Arabia foreign ministry reads; “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister clearly and unequivocally reaffirmed this stance during his speech at the opening of the first session of the ninth term of the Shura Council on September 18, 202.4.
“His Royal Highness emphasized that Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.
“His Royal Highness also reiterated this firm position during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024. He stressed the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
“His Royal Highness also urged more peace-loving countries to recognize the State of Palestine, and emphasized the importance of mobilizing the international community to support the Palestinian people’s rights, as expressed in United Nations General Assembly resolutions, recognizing Palestine’s eligibility for full UN membership.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, land annexation, or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land. The international community has a duty today to alleviate the severe humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain steadfast on their land and will not move from it.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises. Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current U.S. administrations.”
The Geneva Conventions, which the United States and Israel have both ratified, prohibit the forcible relocation of populations.
The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the Israeli authorities claimed about 1,200 people were kìlled and about 250 others taken hostage. The Israeli response was fierce and scorching on Gaza, resulting in at least 45,000 people cut down as Israeli bombs rained down on Gaza in torrents for months, according Gaza’s health officials. Much of homes, private and public infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed.
