Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, in a statement on Wednesday, affirmed the existence of consensus that the Arab Peace Initiative is the acceptable basis for all parties regarding the Palestinian issue.
Shtayyeh made these remarks following his meeting in Ramallah with the new non-resident Saudi ambassador to Palestine and Consul General in Jerusalem, Nayef bin Bandar al-Sudairi.
The premier said the Saudi position “is exceptional in its clarity regarding the Palestinian issue, and there is agreement that the Arab Peace Initiative is the acceptable basis for all parties.”
Shtayyeh further emphasized that the appointment of a Saudi ambassador to Palestine conveys a significant message, indicating the alignment of both sides, and underscoring the robust and strategic nature of Palestinian-Saudi relations.
“The rise and progress of the Kingdom is good for Muslims and Arabs and good for Palestine in particular,” said Shtayyeh.
“We are happy with the pioneering and advanced Saudi role in the region and the world, because this pushes the Palestinian cause forward, amid a state of international double standards,” he added.
The prime minister then accused the Israeli government of moving from secular Zionism to religious Zionism.
According to Shtayyeh, this has led to an intensification of settlement activity, an intensification of the raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque, greater aggression, and more killing.
“Israel is waging four wars against us: a war on land by seizing it, a war on people by killing and displacing our people in Jerusalem and elsewhere, a war on money with illegal and unaudited deductions from our money, which has put us on the brink of collapse, and finally a war on the narrative through an attempt to Judaize Jerusalem,” explained the premier.
Shtayyeh observed that despite the Palestinian Authority's view of a lack of a political pathway and the absence of a viable partner within an extremely right-wing Israeli government, Palestinians are actively striving to stabilize their internal affairs and pursue reconciliation efforts.
