Saudi Arabia Rebukes Netanyahu’s Proposal on Palestinian State
In an intensifying geopolitical landscape, the ever-complex dynamics between Israel and its neighbors have experienced yet another ripple, courtesy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks that have sparked controversy.
On a somber Sunday morning, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a firm response to Netanyahu’s suggestion, accusing him of attempting to “divert attention” from what they describe as Israel’s ongoing “crimes” in Gaza, including talk of “ethnic cleansing.”
“The kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes,” declared Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry.
Netanyahu’s comments were prompted during an awkward interaction on Israel’s Channel 14. A seemingly innocent slip of the tongue when the interviewer mentioned “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state,” led to Netanyahu suggesting that “the Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
A flurry of indignation swept through the Arab world, with nations like Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq, all voicing their disapproval. Representing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed:
“These dangerous and irresponsible statements confirm the approach of the Israeli occupation forces in their disrespect for international and UN laws and treaties, as well as the sovereignty of states.”
The Saudi Foreign Ministry didn’t hesitate to express gratitude towards these “brotherly countries” for standing together in denunciation of Netanyahu’s rhetoric.
Yet, it’s not only Netanyahu’s propositions that have caused stirrings. Not long before, an equally jarring proposal came from the United States. President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. could “take over” Gaza and “resettle Palestinians elsewhere,” a notion swiftly condemned by Arab leaders as it risks igniting tension and echoes of historical displacement.
Undoubtedly, this remains a precarious period. Trump’s claims that Saudi Arabia seeks no Palestinian state as a prerequisite to normalizing relations with Israel — vehemently denied by Riyadh — add layers to an already convoluted narrative.
Meanwhile, the grim toll of Israel’s military actions in Gaza looms large. The conflict has led to the deaths of at least 61,700 Palestinians, including a heart-wrenching number of children estimated at around 18,000. Countless others, over 14,000 individuals, remain missing in the region’s debris and chaos.
It was the Hamas-led incursion on October 7 that served as a catalyst for this ongoing conflict — an attack that claimed 1,139 Israeli lives and resulted in more than 250 captives, leaving an indelible mark. Still, many captives presumably remain within Gaza’s confines.
So, where does the path forward lie? Is meaningful dialogue possible, or are we destined for a continuous cycle of proposals and rejections, marked by incendiary rhetoric? Only time, and perhaps a measure of diplomacy, will reveal the path forward.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
