ALWAGHT- Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent comments regarding the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland and the establishment of a Palestinian state within Saudi territory.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent comments suggesting that a Palestinian state could be created in Saudi Arabia. The ministry described the suggestion as reflecting an “extremist mindset” that fails to recognize the deep historical and legal connection between the Palestinian people and their land. Netanyahu's remarks, made during an interview with Israel's Channel 14, sparked outrage across the region, with Egypt and Jordan also denouncing them. Egypt called the idea an infringement on Saudi sovereignty, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry labeled it "racist and anti-peace."
Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, emphasized that the State of Palestine can only exist on Palestinian soil. Saudi Arabia, which had previously engaged in US-mediated talks on normalizing relations with Israel, halted those discussions after Israel’s aggressive actions in Gaza in October 2023, which led to significant Palestinian casualties. Riyadh has repeatedly made clear that any potential normalization would only be considered with a clear path toward establishing a Palestinian state.
The international backlash extended to US proposals as well. Former President Donald Trump had suggested relocating Palestinians from Gaza to other Arab nations, including Jordan and Egypt, in a move that was widely criticized, especially by Arab nations. In response, Yousef bin Trad al-Saadoun, a member of the Saudi Shura Council, mocked Netanyahu’s proposal and suggested that Trump should relocate Israelis to Alaska or Greenland if he truly sought peace in the region. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 48,000 people killed and many more displaced. The violence led to a ceasefire deal in January 2025, after Israel’s failure to achieve its war objectives.
