Last updated on: 5/13/2020 | Author: ProCon.org

What Are the Official Positions of Saudi Arabia on Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

General Reference (not clearly pro or con)

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, in a statement titled “Kingdom Stance on Palestinian Issue,” available at their website, last updated on May 4, 2010, stated:

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adopted all resolutions of international organizations with regard to Palestinians. It also participated in numerous meetings and conferences on the Palestinian issue since Madrid conference to Road Plan. In this respect, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presented the Saudi peace initiative proposed by his Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, and adopted by Arab states in Beirut Summit in March 2002. The Initiative maintains peace and stability to all nations and guarantees a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exerts its utmost in contacting the West, friendly nations, and the US Administration to pressure Israel for considering international resolutions that call for complete Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned the racial segregation wall that Israel currently building on much of the Palestinian territories, and in this respect the Kingdom presented a protest memorandum to the International Court of Justice in Hague…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued numerous statements condemning Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people and against the holy sites. For example, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia denounced the Israeli government decision claiming Al Qods (Jerusalem) as a permanent capital of Israel. The efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with Arab, Muslim and friend nations resulted in issuing the UN resolution (478) in 1980. This international resolution – which was considered a success for Muslim diplomacy – calls all states to withdraw its foreign missions from Al Qods.”

May 4, 2010 -

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia

Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the UK, in a July 26, 2014 press release in response to allegations of a Saudi-Israeli alliance against Gaza made by David Hearst, editor of the Middle East Eye, available at the Embassies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s website, wrote:

“Saudi Arabia in the past, now and in the future will do all it can to support the Palestinian people in their claim for the return of their own land and for self-determination in their own state.

The brutality and disproportionality of the Israeli action against the civilian population in Gaza is a crime against humanity…

Any dealings by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Israel have been limited to attempts to bring about a plan for peace.”

July 26, 2014 -

Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, in a Mar. 2015 speech before the Royal Family, Officials, Clerics and Members of the Consultative Council, a transcript of which is available on the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, stated:

“One of the most important principles is the Kingdom’s continuation of adhering to the international treaties, conventions and charters, including respecting the principle of sovereignty and rejecting any attempt of intervention in our internal affairs, continued defense of Arab and Islamic issues in the international forums in various ways, including achievement of what the Kingdom has always sought and will always seek; namely, that the Palestinian people be granted their legitimate rights and be able to establish their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital.”

Mar. 2015 -

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud