Palestinian Authority Welcomes Saudi Ambassador’s Visit

Saudi Ambassador to Palestine Nayef al-Sudairi presenting credentials on August 12 in Amman, Jordan, to Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for Diplomatic Affairs, Majdi al-Khalidi. (WAFA)
Saudi Ambassador to Palestine Nayef al-Sudairi presenting credentials on August 12 in Amman, Jordan, to Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for Diplomatic Affairs, Majdi al-Khalidi. (WAFA)
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Palestinian Authority Welcomes Saudi Ambassador’s Visit

Saudi Ambassador to Palestine Nayef al-Sudairi presenting credentials on August 12 in Amman, Jordan, to Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for Diplomatic Affairs, Majdi al-Khalidi. (WAFA)
Saudi Ambassador to Palestine Nayef al-Sudairi presenting credentials on August 12 in Amman, Jordan, to Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for Diplomatic Affairs, Majdi al-Khalidi. (WAFA)

The Palestinian government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) welcomed on Monday the visit of the Saudi ambassador to Palestine and consul in Jerusalem, Nayef al-Sudairi, describing it as a historic milestone for developing fraternal relations between the two countries.

“The visit is considered an important historic milestone for the development of fraternal relations between the two countries and opening more horizons for joint cooperation in all fields,” the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates posted on its official X account.

It added that it values the support of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammad bin Salman, for the just and legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people in all forums.

The visit is a first for a Saudi high-ranking official to the Palestinian territories since the appointment of Al-Sudairi as non-resident ambassador to Palestine and Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Jerusalem.

Al-Sudairi said the step will have positive outcomes that will benefit the Palestinians in terms of organizing relations and giving an official boost to relations between the two countries. “We look forward to a promising future for this relationship to make it even better,” he said.

On Monday, Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee, welcomed the visit of Sudairi.

“The Ambassador will present his official credentials to President Mahmoud Abbas within a few days,” wrote Al-Sheikh in a tweet.

Al-Sudairi had presented on August 12 his letter of credentials to the Palestinian authorities.

He delivered the letter of credentials to Majdi Al-Khalidi, advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for diplomatic affairs, at the Palestinian Embassy in Jordan.

Al-Sudairi is the first Saudi Ambassador to Palestine.

On Monday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry had reported that its minister, Riyad al-Maliki, sent a congratulatory letter to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, congratulating him on the occasion of the 93rd Saudi National Day.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.