Saudi Arabia, Egypt Reject Interferences In Arab Countries' Affairs

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry receives his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry receives his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Egypt Reject Interferences In Arab Countries' Affairs

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry receives his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry receives his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt and Saudi Arabia underlined the need to maintain coordination and efforts to support the region’s security and stability.

In a joint statement, the two countries emphasized “the importance of joint Arab action and the Palestinian cause,” condemning “attempts to undermine the security and safety of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.”

The statement came following a meeting on Thursday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud in Cairo.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the two officials reviewed the “distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries at all levels.”

According to an official statement, the foreign ministers highly valued “cooperation and coordination between the two sides in the political, economic, security and cultural levels, in a way that enhances the security and stability of the two brotherly countries and supports the interests of their peoples.”

Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart stressed “the importance of joint Arab action and the role of the Arab League in strengthening and resolving the region’s crises in accordance with relevant international resolutions and the principles of international law.”

The two sides pointed to the importance of the Palestinian Cause, saying that a just and comprehensive solution requires the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as stipulated in the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

Cairo and Riyadh affirmed their “rejection of attempts by regional parties to interfere in the internal affairs of Arab countries or threaten their stability and undermine the interests of their people, whether through ethnic and sectarian incitement, terrorism, or expansionist ideas that do not respect the sovereignty of states…”

In this regard, the two sides agreed to “continue to fight terrorist organizations in the region in all their forms.”

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s statement said that the two officials condemned attempts to harm the security and safety of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea.

They stressed “the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in these pivotal sea lanes, and the need to confront any similar attempts that threaten regional and international security and stability.”



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)
TT

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.”