RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – the Saudi Cabinet, following its weekly session chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin salman on Tuesday, reiterated its call for international support of the final document from the recent high-level international conference on the Palestinian issue. The document aims to establish a framework for a two-state solution and promote regional peace and security.
Details Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary, in a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), emphasized the Kingdom’s unwavering support for the Palestinian state and its people. This support includes ongoing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, delivered via a Saudi air and maritime bridge providing shelter, medical supplies, and food.
The Cabinet strongly condemned what it described as provocative actions by Israeli government officials towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, demanding the international community intervene to halt thes violations of international law and norms. The specific actions prompting the condemnation were not detailed in the statement.
Al-Dossary highlighted the positive outcomes of the conference, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and france, and the increasing number of countries signaling their intent to recognize a Palestinian state. This move, the statement asserts, aligns with international legitimacy and supports the pursuit of peace. The conference, held in Paris on July 9th, 2024, brought together representatives from over 30 nations and the Palestinian Authority.
Background: Saudi Arabia and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Saudi arabia has historically been a key player in Arab-Israeli diplomacy. While not formally recognizing Israel for decades, relations have been warming in recent years, with normalization talks mediated by the United states. Though, the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the actions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque have strained these relations. The Kingdom’s consistent position has been advocating for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. The saudi-led peace initiative, first proposed in 2002, remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy regarding the conflict. The current escalation has prompted increased Saudi diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and secure a lasting peace agreement. The Saudi air and maritime bridge to Gaza has delivered over 1,500 tons of aid as its inception on November 3rd, 2023, according to official Saudi figures.