Saudi FM: Israel’s blocking of Ramallah meeting proof of ‘extremism’

Saudi Gazette report

AMMAN — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Sunday that the Israeli government’s refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank showed its “extremism and rejection of peace.”

Addressing a press conference in Amman after attending the extraordinary meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza Strip, Prince Faisal also underscored that the creation of an independent Palestinian state is the only viable solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Prince Faisal said: “The committee praised the reform agenda that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is working on.” He stressed that the Palestinian Authority is facing a party that does not want any solutions. “The Palestinian Authority continues to fulfill its duties, and is committed to the agreements. The authority is considered the rational party in the crisis,” he said.

Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of the international community’s understanding of the true nature of Palestinian positions, which adopt a reformist approach to internal affairs, even in the most difficult circumstances. “This is aimed to fulfill their responsibilities toward the Palestinian people first, and then toward their neighbors and the international community,” he said.

The Saudi minister criticized Israel’s negative approach toward protecting Palestinian rights. “We see nothing but violence, and in Gaza we see nothing but a war of extermination, and in the West Bank there are successive steps clearly aimed at weakening the Palestinian cause.” He reiterated the Kingdom’s position that those who adopt the approach of “no solution except through a two-state solution” must adopt positions that support this approach, including recognition of Palestine.

Prince Faisal emphasized that Israel’s actions, such as the refusal of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee’s entry to the Palestinian city of Ramallah, clearly demonstrate the extent of Israel’s understanding of the international position on the importance of alternative solutions. In the same context, he presented a viewpoint on the rumors, emphasizing the importance of countries that adopt a public policy stating that there is no solution to the Arab-Palestinian-Israeli conflict except through a viable two-state solution, underlining this position and allowing for the recognition of Palestine. This would send a clear message to Israel about the need to move forward in finding a path to establishing this state, reconciling and coexisting with it.

Saudi foreign minister also stressed that European positions on Israel are not sufficient, saying: “As Arabs and Muslims, we will not accept any solution other than the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

It is noteworthy that the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza announced the postponement of its planned visit to Ramallah, scheduled for Sunday, due to Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation’s entry into the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel, according to a statement issued by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Jordan to attend the meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee and supporting efforts to end the war and blockade on Gaza, as part of the committee’s ongoing world tours. The Saudi minister said that the Palestine issue figured highly during his meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah.