Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the normalization of relations with Israel is unacceptable until the question of the formation of a Palestinian state is resolved. He also clarified on Thursday (October 31) that there is no hesitation in Saudi Arabia's policy regarding the Gaza crisis. French news agency AFP reported.
Faisal bin Farhan told the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh that normalizing relations with Israel is not only at risk, but is not even in the talks until the establishment of a Palestinian state is resolved.
He also said, I would say, it is not just a question of normalizing Israel's relationship with Saudi Arabia; If we do not guarantee the rights of the Palestinians, the security of the entire region will be at risk.
Prince Faisal called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to fulfill its moral responsibility by giving Palestinians 'their rights and a state'.
Last September, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman raised the possibility of normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations, but talks stalled after the October 7 attack by Hamas. After that, Saudi Arabia joined other Arab and Islamic countries in condemning Israel as Israel's counterattacks in Gaza continued to kill.
Prince Faisal said on Thursday that there is no doubt in the Saudi policy on Gaza and Palestine. We have been calling for a ceasefire since the beginning. Even after the events of October 7, we made it clear that Israel's overreaction is extremely dangerous.
The Saudi foreign minister has called Israel's siege and military assault on northern Gaza a 'genocide'. He also called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and an end to Israeli attacks.
“We are not part of any direct talks,” Prince Faisal said. But I support the US efforts for a ceasefire. Expect the same for Gaza.
He added that Riyadh has never seceded from Lebanon and that outside powers have no right to influence Lebanon's political process.
