Saudi FM: Israel Blocking Ramallah Meeting Proof of Extremism

This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit posing for a family portrait during their meeting in Amman on June 1, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit posing for a family portrait during their meeting in Amman on June 1, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
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Saudi FM: Israel Blocking Ramallah Meeting Proof of Extremism

This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit posing for a family portrait during their meeting in Amman on June 1, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit posing for a family portrait during their meeting in Amman on June 1, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said the Israeli government's refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers to the occupied West Bank showed its "extremism and rejection of peace".

His statement came during a joint press conference in Amman with counterparts from Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain, after they met as part of an Arab contact group that was going to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

"Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for (a) peaceful pathway. It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance," the Saudi minister said.

On Saturday, Israel said it would not allow a planned meeting on Sunday that would have included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said.

Prince Faisal's visit to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was "killing any chance of a just and comprehensive" Arab-Israeli settlement.

The foreign ministers later met with Jordan's King Abdullah II. Discussions focused on ongoing efforts to end the war on Gaza and facilitate the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip. They also tackled strengthening joint initiatives to halt all violations by Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people.

An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them.

Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries which favor a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel.



Saudi Arabia Re-Elected as Chair of SMIIC Board for Third Consecutive Term

file photo of the Saudi flag - SPA
file photo of the Saudi flag - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Re-Elected as Chair of SMIIC Board for Third Consecutive Term

file photo of the Saudi flag - SPA
file photo of the Saudi flag - SPA

The member states of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) reaffirmed their confidence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by electing it as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a third consecutive term (2025–2027) during the 29th meeting of the SMIIC Board of Directors, held in Madinah with representatives from 13 member countries.

The Kingdom’s election underscores its leadership in standardization efforts across the Islamic world, its effective role in fostering technical cooperation, and its commitment to strengthening quality infrastructure to support the economic growth of member states, SPA reported.

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) Governor Dr. Saad Al-Kasabi expressed his pride in this show of confidence, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to continuing its support for SMIIC’s efforts and enhancing joint technical work through the development of a legislative framework for standardization activities.