During his historic press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald J. Trump was asked if the Saudis aren’t objecting to his idea of relocating some two million Arabs from Gaza, and responded, “No, they’re not.”
Trump insisted that “everyone is demanding one thing — peace,” and, “We have the right leader of Israel” for a normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia, because, Trump said, “He wants peace also.”
Trump was right about Netanyahu, of course, but are the Saudis preferring a Palestinian State over a chance to turn the Middle East into a stable and prosperous region?
On Tuesday night, the Saudi foreign ministry issued a curt statement headlined, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the Kingdom’s position on the establishment of the Palestinian state is firm and unwavering.”
HERE’S THE GOOGLE-TRANSLATED ANNOUNCEMENT
Riyadh, Shaaban 06, 1446 AH corresponding to February 05, 2025 AD SPA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Kingdom’s position on the establishment of the Palestinian state is a firm, steadfast, and unwavering position and that this firm position is not subject to negotiation or bidding.
This came in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the text of which is as follows:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the establishment of the Palestinian state is firm, steadfast, and unwavering, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – affirmed this position in a clear and explicit manner that does not allow for interpretation under any circumstances during the speech he delivered at the opening of the first year of the ninth session of the Shura Council on September 18, 2024.
“His Highness stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not stop its tireless work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.
ARE THEY IN OR OUT?
The Telegram news site Abu Ali Express wondered what the Saudis meant by the word, “that?”
“I will present two options and remind you that Saudi Arabia cannot say outside what it thinks on the inside,” AAE began its speculation.
“Option A – Saudi Arabia cannot maintain diplomatic relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
“Option B – Saudi Arabia cannot maintain diplomatic relations with Israel without continuing to work toward the establishment of a Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
“In other words, it is possible to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and continue to work toward the establishment of a Palestinian state,” AAE concluded, adding, “In the Middle East, everything is flexible… depending on the situation. It will be fine. Gaza will be flattened and there will also be normalization, and I would venture a bet that there will be normalization with Saudi Arabia even before an independent Palestinian state is established with eastern Jerusalem as its capital…”
HERE’S THE REST OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
His Highness – may God protect him – also expressed this firm position during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, where His Highness stressed the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and the demand to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
“His Highness urged more peace-loving countries to recognize the State of Palestine and the importance of mobilizing the international community to support the rights of the Palestinian people, which were expressed in the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly considering Palestine eligible for full membership in the United Nations.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it has previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands, or seeking to displace the Palestinian people from their land.
“The duty of the international community today is to work to alleviate the harsh human suffering that the Palestinian people are suffering from, who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it.
“The Kingdom affirms that this firm position is not subject to negotiation or outbidding and that a lasting and just peace cannot be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, and this is what was previously explained to the previous and current US administrations.”
