Saudi Arabia blasts Netanyahu's call for Palestinian state on its land

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the remarks made by the Israeli Prime Minister, which suggested the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory. This statement has sparked widespread concern in the international community and has been met with unanimous condemnation from several countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview with Israel's Channel 14 on Thursday: "The Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land there." These remarks immediately drew condemnation from a range of countries, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Iraq.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing its gratitude to brotherly nations for their condemnation, opposition, and complete rejection of Netanyahu's remarks. In a statement released on Sunday morning, Riyadh made it clear that it firmly opposes statements aimed at "diverting attention from the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupying forces against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are suffering."

The statement further noted that "this extremist occupation mentality does not understand the significance of Palestinian land to the Palestinian brothers and their emotional, historical, and legal connection to this land." The statement also condemned Israel's complete destruction of the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in over 160,000 casualties, mostly children and women, demonstrating a lack of basic humanitarian sentiment and moral responsibility.

Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, Riyadh has reiterated its position that it will only establish ties with Israel after the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday that Palestinians have the right to their own land, "they are not invaders or immigrants, and cannot be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupying forces wish."

The statement also added that advocates of "extremist ideas" prevent Israel from accepting peaceful coexistence and systematically inflict injustice on Palestinians "for more than 75 years, disregarding truth, justice, law, and the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the right of human beings to live with dignity on their land." The statement concluded by reaffirming that lasting peace can only be achieved through a "two-state solution" that allows for peaceful coexistence.

A little over a year ago, Saudi Arabia and Israel appeared to be moving closer to normalizing relations, but this strong statement has further distanced the two countries. Netanyahu and US President Trump discussed the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations in Washington last week, with the Israeli Prime Minister insisting that it would become a reality. "Not only is it possible, I think it will happen," Netanyahu told reporters.

However, shortly after the press conference, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday stating that its position on the establishment of a Palestinian state was "steadfast." "Saudi Arabia will continue its tireless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until this is achieved," the statement noted.

Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), called Netanyahu's remarks about establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi land "a violation of international law and international conventions." "We affirm that the Palestinian state can only be established on the land of Palestine, and we thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leadership and people for their position, which has always called for the implementation of international legitimacy and international law," Sheikh said on Saturday.

Egypt described the remarks as "irresponsible," adding that "the security of Saudi Arabia and respect for its sovereignty is a red line that cannot be crossed."