Ramallah - Palestine

The Palestinian Authority, represented by the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein Al-Sheikh, condemned the statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he called for the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi land instead of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestinian Authority Statements: Absolute Rejection and Assault on Saudi Sovereignty

In the first official Palestinian response, Sheikh described Netanyahu's statements as “an assault on the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a violation of international law and international charters,” emphasizing that “the State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine,” referring to the occupied territories in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.

He also stressed that Palestinian national rights are non-negotiable and cannot be transferred elsewhere, rejecting any Israeli attempts to impose solutions that contradict international legitimacy decisions and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.

Appreciation for the Position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Hussein Al-Sheikh praised the positions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, leadership and people, in supporting the Palestinian cause, noting Riyadh's continuous commitment to the decisions of international legitimacy and the two-state solution as a basis for achieving security, stability, and peace in the region. He also confirmed that the Palestinian and regional approach aligns with the principle of establishing an independent Palestinian state along the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Netanyahu's Statements Stir Controversy

Netanyahu had stated, during an interview with Israeli Channel 14, that Saudi Arabia has a “vast area” sufficient for the establishment of a Palestinian state, reiterating his rejection of any Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

His statements came in reaction to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which the Kingdom affirmed its adherence to the two-state solution and its rejection of former U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that Riyadh would not condition the establishment of a Palestinian state within the normalization process with Israel.

Expected Diplomatic Escalation

These developments indicate a surge in political tension between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, amidst the ongoing Netanyahu government's pursuit of policies contrary to international law and attempts to impose new realities that contradict legitimate Palestinian rights.

In the coming days, Palestinian and Arab diplomatic movements are expected to take place, aiming to rally a unified regional and international stance against the Israeli proposal, and to affirm the necessity of adhering to United Nations resolutions and Arab initiatives to resolve the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy.