Saudi Foreign Minister in Berlin says Israel’s annexation policies and settlement building are illegitimate

Web Report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia will adhere to the Arab Peace Plan in its relations with Israel, the Kingdom’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians on the basis of the initiative for any alteration in ties, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said. “Once that is achieved all things are possible,” according to Arab News.

The minister said: “When we sponsored the Arab Peace Plan in 2002, we fully envisioned that there would eventually be relations between all Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, and Israel if the condition is met.

“Saudi Arabia remains committed to peace as a strategic option based on the Arab Peace Plan and relevant international resolutions enabling the Palestinian people to establish their own state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

The UAE and Israel last week established diplomatic relations for the first time. In an agreement brokered by the US, Israel also suspended plans to annex swaths of the occupied West Bank.

Prince Faisal voiced cautious optimism over the agreement. “Any efforts that result in holding back the threat of annexation could be viewed as positive,” he said.
Under the 2002 Saudi-sponsored Arab Peace Plan, Israel would withdraw from Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, in exchange for peace and normalisation of relations.

Earlier, on Wednesday US President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia to join the agreement announced last week by Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship.

“I do,” Trump replied when asked at a White House news conference if he expected Saudi Arabia to join the deal.

Also read: Days After UAE-Israel Deal, Imran Says No Recognition of Israel Unless Palestine is Freed