Saudi Arabia: Regional Security at Risk Without Addressing Palestinian Rights

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaking on Thursday during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaking on Thursday during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia: Regional Security at Risk Without Addressing Palestinian Rights

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaking on Thursday during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaking on Thursday during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Thursday that normalization with Israel won’t happen until there’s progress toward a Palestinian state.

He stressed that a two-state solution must be implemented with practical steps to ensure Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

At the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh, Prince Faisal said a Palestinian state “is not tied to whether or not Israel accepts it; it is tied to principles of international law.”

“UN resolutions that led to the establishment of the state of Israel clearly had a Palestinian state in view as well; so we need to make that happen,” added Prince Faisal.

He urged for Palestine to gain UN membership quickly, warning that regional security could suffer if Palestinian rights aren’t addressed.

“I would say certainly that normalization with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not just at risk, it is off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood,” noted the top diplomat.

“But I would say more than that, it is not just the issue of the normalization with the Kingdom that is at risk, I would say that the security of the region at whole is at risk, if we do not address the rights of the Palestinians, and if we do not find a way for a pathway that leads us to a Palestinian state,” explained Prince Faisal.

The Minister said ceasefire talks in Gaza have repeatedly failed due to new demands from Israel.

He called Israeli attacks in northern Gaza a form of “genocide” that fuels violence and said the offensive has created “a humanitarian disaster.”

As for Iran, the Saudi Minister said ties are moving in the right direction despite regional challenges.

He revealed having open discussions with Iran to understand each other’s views better and avoid misunderstandings. Prince Faisal added that these efforts, in coordination with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allies, aim to strengthen stability and build a positive relationship.

Prince Faisal noted that Iran seems to recognize the risks of further escalation and wants to avoid it.

“I conveyed to my Iranian counterpart (Abbas Araghchi) the importance of preventing any new escalation,” Prince Faisal noted, adding that he sensed that the Iranians understand the dangers and prefer restraint, though of course, they have their own strategic calculations to consider.

The Minister said Saudi Arabia’s tensions with Iran stemmed from Tehran’s regional actions, which Riyadh saw as destabilizing.

He relayed that Saudi Arabia was very clear in honest and open discussions with Iran as part of talks in Beijing, adding that these dialogues are being conducted in a way that ensures that the two countries are moving in the right direction.

He also dismissed reports of joint military exercises with Iran, adding, “Military drills are unlikely anytime soon.”

Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are capable of managing regional conflicts while maintaining progress and stability.

He noted the significant achievements of Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia, even amid occasional challenges. He emphasized the maturity of Saudi and Gulf economies, which enables them to withstand geopolitical impacts.

He also stressed that there is no ambiguity in Saudi foreign policy, stating that the Kingdom has been clear on all issues, including the situation in Gaza.

Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Prince Faisal said: “We never fully disengaged, we continue to have the view that it is up to the Lebanese and Lebanese politicians to seek a direction that puts Lebanon on the right track.”

“It’s not up to any outside influence, any outside countries or any outside powers to tell the Lebanese what to do or to influence the political process in Lebanon, that is our opinion,” he clarified.

Prince Faisal expressed hope for a ceasefire in Lebanon soon but noted he was unsure of the current situation.

However, he reiterated support for US efforts to create a path toward a ceasefire, and hoped this can be achieved for both Lebanon and Gaza.

In response to a question about Iran’s influence over certain Lebanese factions, Prince Faisal expressed hope that Iran would align with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to de-escalate crises throughout the region, not just in Lebanon.

He emphasized that this topic has been central to his discussions with his Iranian counterpart.

The Saudi Minister noted that Iran appears to be moving toward reducing escalation, recognizing it is not in their interest, and he hopes this intention will lead to tangible actions.

Prince Faisal further stated that the only way to ease tensions in the region is for all parties to make a conscious decision to do so, as any further escalation could pose significant risks for everyone involved, including Israel, which also needs to work toward reducing tensions.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia called on Wednesday for a Joint Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit to be held on Nov. 11 to address the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the latest developments in the region.
This invitation follows the previous summit hosted by Riyadh on the same date last year, under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and continues the efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in coordination with Arab and Islamic leaders.
Saudi Arabia emphasized its commitment to “monitoring regional developments, condemning the continued unjust Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories, and its expansion into Lebanon, which threatens Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with serious implications for the security and stability of the Middle East.” The Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of the ongoing crimes and violations against both the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Dr. Khalid Al-Habas, a Saudi political analyst, believes the anticipated summit will call on the international community to assume its responsibilities “to stop Israeli aggression and activate the two-state solution, urging countries that have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to expedite this process.”
He added: “The summit will also support Riyadh-led initiatives to advance the Palestinian cause, including the global coalition currently meeting in Riyadh to implement the two-state solution, as well as address humanitarian aid amidst the destruction and suffering caused by the war.”
The previous summit in Riyadh, attended by Arab and Islamic leaders, decided to “assign the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia—as the chair of the Arab and Islamic summit—as well as those of Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Palestine, along with the Secretaries-General of both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to initiate an immediate international mobilization on behalf of all member states to coordinate a global effort to stop the war on Gaza and push for a serious and genuine political process to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace based on established international frameworks.”
The “Riyadh Summit 2023” resolution also called for “tasking both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with establishing media monitoring units to document all crimes committed by the occupying forces against the Palestinian people.”
Additionally, it called for “the creation of specialized legal monitoring units to document Israeli crimes committed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, with the goal of preparing legal submissions on all violations of international law and international humanitarian law for presentation to the International Criminal Court.”
The resolutions called for “ending the blockade on Gaza and ensuring the entry of Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian aid convoys.” The summit also affirmed “absolute rejection, and collective resistance, to any attempts of forced individual or collective displacement, forced migration, exile, or deportation of the Palestinian people—whether within Gaza, the West Bank, or beyond their homeland—considering such actions a red line and a war crime.”