Saudi Crown Prince: We will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel before the establishment of a Palestinian state
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Wednesday that the kingdom will not recognize Israel without Palestinian State He strongly condemned the “crimes of the Israeli occupation” against the Palestinian people.
He confirmed Saudi Crown Prince “The Kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.”
After the outbreak of war last October between Israel and Hamas, Saudi Arabia froze U.S.-backed plans to normalize relations with Israel, two sources familiar with the matter said earlier this year, in a rapid reordering of its diplomatic priorities.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had said weeks before the fighting broke out that Riyadh was close to reaching an agreement.
There will be some delay in U.S.-backed talks on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, seen as a key step for the kingdom to secure what it sees as the real prize of a U.S. defense pact in return, the two sources told Reuters.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the remarks in his annual speech to the Shura Council, which he delivered on behalf of his father, King Salman.
During his speech, the Saudi Crown Prince said, “The Palestinian issue is at the forefront of your country’s concerns, and we renew the Kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people, ignoring international and humanitarian law in a new and bitter chapter of suffering. The Kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.”
Highness #Crown_PrinceThe Palestinian issue is at the forefront of your country’s concerns, and we reiterate the Kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people, ignoring international and humanitarian law in a new and bitter chapter of suffering. The Kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state… pic.twitter.com/oAtKcs0yNp
— SPA Royal News (@spagov) September 18, 2024
He added: “We thank the countries that recognized the Palestinian state in embodiment of international legitimacy, and we urge the rest of the countries to take similar steps.”
He stressed that the Kingdom is keen to cooperate with all active countries in the international community, certain that what protects humanity and preserves its civilized values is the joint pursuit of a better future based on fruitful cooperation between countries and peoples, respect for the independence and values of countries, adopting the principle of good neighborliness, non-interference in their internal affairs, and avoiding resorting to force in resolving disputes.
