The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has refuted any diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is actualized.
A statement by the Royal Embassy in Nigeria, made available to The Guardian on Thursday, said the position reflects the long-standing stance of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the statement, the position was reiterated by the Crown Prince on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the inauguration of the ninth session of the Shura Council held today.
“We reiterate Saudi Arabia’s firm rejection and strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authority’s crimes against the Palestinian people, which flagrantly violate international and humanitarian law, thereby adding to their long and bitter suffering.
“The Kingdom will not cease its tireless efforts in pursuit of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that no diplomatic ties with Israel will be established until this is achieved,” the Kingdom declared.
King Salman further stated that the Kingdom was keen to cooperate with all effective countries in the international community, affirming its diplomatic cooperation to better the future and dignity of humanity.
“What protects humanity and preserves its civilizational values is the common pursuit of a better future based on fruitful cooperation between countries and people, respecting the independence of countries and their values, adhering to the principle of good neighbourliness, non-interference in their internal affairs, and avoiding resorting to violence to resolve disputes.”
“The Kingdom also seeks to enhance regional and international security and peace by making efforts to reach political solutions to the crises in Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and others, and also supports solutions in international crises such as the Russian-Ukrainian crisis,” he added.
The Crown Prince, on behalf of the King, outlined the Kingdom’s foreign policy, expressing a commitment to working with all influential nations in the international community.
He said that safeguarding humanity and preserving its values depend on the collective pursuit of a better future through fruitful cooperation, respect for national sovereignty, adherence to good neighbourly principles, non-interference in internal affairs, and avoiding resorting to force in resolving conflicts.
Noting the Kingdom’s achievements in the last few years, the Saudi Prince said, “Our country has achieved many fundamental achievements during this great journey, and among them are the non-oil activities in the Kingdom, which recorded their highest contribution to the real GDP at 50% last year.
“The success has enhanced the sustainability and comprehensiveness of growth, achieving high quality in economic diversification. The Public Investment Fund continues its role in achieving its goals to be a driving force for investment.
“Unemployment among male and female citizens recorded its lowest historical level in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 7.6% while it was 12.8% in 2017. The percentage of homeownership among citizens increased from 47% in 2016 to more than 63%.
“In the field of tourism, achievements preceded the target date, as the national tourism strategy, which was launched in 2019, set a target of 100 million tourists in 2030, and this target was exceeded, reaching 109 million tourists in 2023.
“The Kingdom has achieved 6th place among the most competitive countries. With the exploration of natural resources, the Kingdom has become one of the largest stores of natural resources in the world. Our country has also achieved an advanced position in the field of renewable energy, becoming one of its most active players regionally and internationally.”
