Saudi Arabia reiterates support for creation of Palestinian state, rejects Trump's claim

Saudi Arabia has reiterated its unwavering support for Palestinians, underscoring its “non-negotiable” stance that Riyadh will not normalize relations with the Israeli regime without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the kingdom’s position would remain “firm” after US President Donald Trump claimed during a meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian state in return for normalization with Tel Aviv.

“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,” the statement said.

“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, 2024.”

The statement recalled that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had reiterated the kingdom’s commitment during the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, stressing the need for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Bin Salman had also called on more nations to recognize Palestine and underscored the significance of securing full United Nations membership for the Palestinian state, as reflected in UN General Assembly resolutions.

"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 US administrations," the statement said.

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The Saudi Foreign Ministry also rejected any actions that undermine Palestinian rights, including Israel’s illegal settlement expansion, land annexation and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland.

The statement called on the international community to take decisive action to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the Palestinian people, who continue to stand resilient in defense of their land and rights.

Back in 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco entered US-brokered rapprochement deals with the Israeli regime as part of Washington-formulated Abraham Accords.

The United States had led months of diplomacy to get Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Tel Aviv and recognize the illegal entity until the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The regime's onslaught on the besieged Palestinian territory left more than 61,000 people dead, mostly women and children, before a ceasefire deal came into effect on January 19.

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