Saudi Gazette report

NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan reaffirmed on Wednesday that the Palestinian issue is on top of the Kingdom’s foreign policy agenda and that Saudi Arabia has not hesitated to defend the Palestinian cause since the era of King Abdulaziz until today.

In a message of solidarity sent to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the minister reiterated that the Palestinian issue is a fundamental Arab issue.

Prince Faisal thanked members of the committee for their efforts in defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people that contribute to enabling them to exercise their inalienable rights guaranteed by the relevant international resolutions.

“The position of Saudi Arabia remains constant on the Palestinian issue as well as in defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, and in adhering to the Arab Peace Initiative that was drawn up by the Kingdom and adopted by the Arab countries at the Beirut Arab League summit of 2008.

The Arab Peace Initiative affirms the Palestinians’ right for an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, the return of refugees and the withdrawal of the occupation from the occupied Syrian Arab Golan Heights,” he said, while emphasizing that this historic initiative came as an important pillar supporting the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict and enhancing opportunities for peace among all parties.

The minister said Saudi Arabia expressed its commitment to support the strategic choice for peace in accordance with international resolutions and laws.

“The Kingdom stresses the importance of a halt to settlement building by Israel on Palestinian land, and supports what was stated in Security Council Resolution 2,334, which affirmed that the Israeli occupation of settlements on the Palestinian land is a flagrant violation under international law and an obstacle to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace.”

Prince Faisal noted that the Palestinian people have suffered a great deal in obtaining their basic rights to achieve economic growth that contributes to providing livelihood and improving their conditions, especially in light of the economic slowdown the world is witnessing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, the Kingdom signed an agreement with UNRWA through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to support the UN agency in confronting coronavirus in the Gaza Strip, and the Kingdom also provided assistance amounting to more than SR10 million to support the Palestinian Ministry of Health in combating the pandemic,” he said while noting that the Kingdom is one of the major donor countries to UNRWA through agreements signed with KSRelief and the Saudi Fund for Development.

The minister affirmed that the Kingdom’s support for Palestine stems from its belief in the importance of the Palestinian cause, defense of Palestinian rights and decent living, and the importance of promoting peace among the parties in the conflict. Prince Faisal also stressed that the international community should turn to the Palestinian issue in order to intensify international efforts to end the conflict and strengthen the stability of the region.