President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas (left) alongside the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, in Riyadh, on Aug. 27, 2024. (Credit: Palestinian Authority Press Office/AFP)
It was supposed to be a highly symbolic visit. Saudi Foreign Minister Failsal bin Farhan was scheduled to visit the occupied West Bank on Sunday as the highest-ranking official from the kingdom to visit the Palestinian land, occupied by Israel since 1967, in the last six decades.But Israel, which has stepped up its land grabs in the territory, had other ideas. Two days before the trip, Tel Aviv announced it was banning the delegation, which included ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, along with Turkish officials and the secretary-general of the Arab League, who were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah."The Palestinian Authority, which to date refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, was planning to host a provocative meeting in Ramallah ... to discuss promoting...
It was supposed to be a highly symbolic visit. Saudi Foreign Minister Failsal bin Farhan was scheduled to visit the occupied West Bank on Sunday as the highest-ranking official from the kingdom to visit the Palestinian land, occupied by Israel since 1967, in the last six decades.But Israel, which has stepped up its land grabs in the territory, had other ideas. Two days before the trip, Tel Aviv announced it was banning the delegation, which included ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, along with Turkish officials and the secretary-general of the Arab League, who were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah."The Palestinian Authority, which to date refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, was planning to host a provocative meeting in Ramallah ... to discuss...