Saudi FM Says Establishing Palestinian State is Key to Ties with Israel

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (File photo: Reuters)
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (File photo: Reuters)
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Saudi FM Says Establishing Palestinian State is Key to Ties with Israel

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (File photo: Reuters)
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (File photo: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia said that forming diplomatic ties with Israel requires establishing a Palestinian state.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told Bloomberg Thursday that an agreement to create a Palestinian state would be a precondition to establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

"We have said consistently that we believe normalization with Israel is something that is very much in the interest of the region," noted Prince Faisal.

"However, true normalization and true stability will only come through giving the Palestinians hope, through giving the Palestinians dignity."

Regarding Saudi Arabia's relations with China and the United States, bin Farhan reiterated that Washington remains the Kingdom's top security partner, even as ties warm with China.

The US is "the most active security partner in the region," he said, though "China continues to be an important trading partner."

Regarding Ukraine, Prince Faisal noted that an end to the Russia-Ukraine war could also be achieved "through negotiation."

Saudi Arabia is engaging with Russia over keeping the oil price "relatively stable," he said.

On Syria, the Saudi foreign minister said countries in the region should work together to find a "political solution" to an ongoing 12-year civil war.



Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Saudi Arabia reiterates its continued support for the Yemeni government and people. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia reiterates its continued support for the Yemeni government and people. (Asharq al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Saudi Arabia reiterates its continued support for the Yemeni government and people. (Asharq al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia reiterates its continued support for the Yemeni government and people. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Wednesday the agreement announced by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday between the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias to de-escalate the situation with regard to the Yemeni banking sector and the national airlines, Yemenia.
The Saudi foreign Ministry stressed Riyadh’s unwavering support for Yemen, its government and people, expressing keenness on de-escalation.
In a statement on its X account on Wednesday, the Ministry said it looks forward to the Yemeni parties sitting for dialogue under the patronage of the UN envoy's office to discuss all economic and humanitarian issues in the hopes of paving the way for a comprehensive political solution for the Yemeni crisis.