King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the background. AFP Archive Photo
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering.” That was the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s response to Donald Trump’s remarks, published overnight Tuesday into Wednesday on X.Earlier in the day, while speaking to reporters before he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the American president claimed that Riyadh no longer considered Palestinian statehood a prerequisite for normalizing ties with Israel. The bold statement suggested a return to the pre-Oct. 7, 2023, scenario, when Saudi Arabia appeared close to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel regardless of Palestinian demands. But that view ignores the past 15 months and the regional backlash to Israel’s stated objectives in Gaza and the West Bank.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its absolute...
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering.” That was the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s response to Donald Trump’s remarks, published overnight Tuesday into Wednesday on X.Earlier in the day, while speaking to reporters before he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the American president claimed that Riyadh no longer considered Palestinian statehood a prerequisite for normalizing ties with Israel. The bold statement suggested a return to the pre-Oct. 7, 2023, scenario, when Saudi Arabia appeared close to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel regardless of Palestinian demands. But that view ignores the past 15 months and the regional backlash to Israel’s stated objectives in Gaza and the West Bank.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its...
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil