Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its position that it will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is created, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement cited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as reaffirming this stance during his speech at the Shura Council’s opening session on September 18 last year and again at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on November 11. The statement also rejected any violation of Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, land annexation and forced displacement. It called on the international community to uphold Palestinian rights and ease humanitarian suffering. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises," the ministry stated.
The kingdom's statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism about a potential peace deal.
