RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries stronly condemned on Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks, which some Israeli media characterised as a joke, came with the region already on edge after US President Donald Trump proposed taking over the territory and displacing Gazans abroad.
In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its “categorical rejection” of such rhetoric, emphasising that “the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.”
The statement said, “This extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine,” asserting that Israel “does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place.”
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Sunday that the thinking behind Netanyahu’s remarks “is unacceptable and reflects a complete detachment from reality”, adding that such ideas “are nothing more than mere fantasies or illusions”.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi stated that “these dangerous and irresponsible statements confirm the approach of the Israeli occupation forces in their lack of respect for international laws and treaties, as well as the sovereignty of nations.”
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly described Netanyahu’s remarks as “hostile toward Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian people, reflecting an arrogant approach and a colonial mindset that disregards the historical rights of the rightful owners of the land.”
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Netanyahu’s statements are “a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant infringement of the United Nations Charter.”
The ministry affirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterated its “categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the brotherly Palestinian people.”
In a statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian al-Qudah said, “The Israeli government continues its provocative policies and statements that undermine the sovereignty of nations and the principles of international law.”
He stressed Jordan’s “absolute rejection of these provocative statements, which reflect an exclusionary and inciting ideology hostile to peace and contribute to further escalation in the region.”
The Foreign Ministry in Muscat, in a statement, reaffirmed “Oman’s firm stance in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on its full sovereign territory in Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders.”
The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, in a statement, expressed the kingdom’s “strong condemnation and denunciation of the irresponsible Israeli statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory,” considering them a “blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.”
The ministry reaffirmed “Bahrain’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its unwavering support for its security, stability, and sovereignty.”
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its “firm rejection of these remarks, which constitute a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and an attack on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in addition to contradicting international law and the UN Charter.”
The ministry emphasized “Iraq’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its unwavering stance in supporting the security, stability, and sovereignty of nations.”
The Yemeni government, in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, condemned Israel’s arrogant and provocative remarks against Saudi Arabia, describing them as “a dangerous escalation that threatens the stability of the entire region.”
The ministry warned that “Israel’s arrogant statements not only target Saudi Arabia but also represent a serious escalation that endangers regional stability as a whole.”
The Mauritanian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, described the Israeli prime minister’s remarks as “irresponsible,” adding that they “constitute an unacceptable violation of international norms and laws and a provocation that threatens the security and stability of the region.”
In a TV interview, right-wing Israeli journalist Yaakov Bardugo was discussing with Netanyahu the prospect of diplomatic normalisation with Saudi Arabia when he appeared to misspeak, attributing to Riyadh the stance that there would be “no progress without a Saudi state”.
“Palestinian state?” Netanyahu corrected him. “Unless you want the Palestinian state to be in Saudi Arabia,” he quipped. “They (the Saudis) have plenty of territory.”
Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the remarks as “inflammatory and a clear violation of international law”, stressing that the Palestinians have the “right to establish an independent, sovereign state” alongside Israel.
The UAE foreign ministry denounced Netanyahu’s comments as “reprehensible and provocative” in a statement, calling them “a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations charter”.
In its statement, Saudi Arabia said “this extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means” to Palestinians.
Such a mindset, it added, “does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place, as it has completely destroyed the Gaza Strip” and killed tens of thousands “without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility”.
Earlier, Trump also sparked global outrage with clean out Gaza Strip plan suggesting Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians displaced from Gaza — an idea both countries have flatly rejected.
While Trump ruled out sending American troops to the territory, Netanyahu in an interview with Fox News said Israel was willing to “do the job”.
“I think that President Trump’s proposal is the first fresh idea in years, and it has the potential to change everything in Gaza,” said Netanyahu. Trump “never said he wants American troops to do the job. Guess what? We’ll do the job,” he added.
However, Israeli troops completed their withdrawal on Sunday from the strategic Netzarim Corridor on Salaheddin Road cutting through the Gaza Strip, as part of a fragile truce deal that Israel claimed it was implementing.
AFP journalists saw no troops in the area Sunday as cars, buses, pickup trucks and donkey carts travelled along the road from both the north and south, crossing the Netzarim Corridor where an Israeli checkpoint used to stand.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel President Isaac Herzog said President Trump would meet the leaders of Egpyt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to discuss the plan for a “sustainable future”, Al Jazeera reported.
“These are partners that must be listened to, they must be discussed with. We have to honour their feelings as well and see how we build a plan that is sustainable for the future.” — Agencies
