Saudi Crown Prince: No Diplomatic Ties with Israel Without Palestinian State

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman confirmed today, Wednesday, that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

During the opening of the first year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, Prince Mohammed bin Salman 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.”

According to The Times of Israel, “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,” the crown prince, known as MBS, says.

Bin Salman added: “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.”

He continued: “We extend our thanks to the countries that recognized the Palestinian state in embodiment of international legitimacy, and we urge the rest of the countries to take similar steps.”

The Saudi Crown Prince explained, “The Kingdom is keen to cooperate with all active countries in the international community, convinced 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 to resolve disputes.”

Saudi Arabia has expressed this position through its Foreign Ministry several times, as it confirmed in February that “there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless the independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops, and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip.”