Middle Eastern Nations Condemn Israeli PM's Remarks on Palestinian State in Saudi Arabia
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced swift backlash from Middle Eastern governments this week after suggesting during a televised interview that Saudi Arabia could host a Palestinian state, calling it a \"violation of sovereignty\" and a diversion from resolving historic tensions.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry rejected the remarks as an attempt to shift focus from what it called Israel's \"continuous crimes,\" reaffirming support for a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar echoed the sentiment, condemning the proposal as a breach of international law and Palestinian rights.
Iran escalated the diplomatic tension by urging an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address what Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described as a U.S.-Israeli plan for \"ethnic cleansing of Gaza.\" Qatar emphasized that peace requires adherence to the two-state solution, while Jordan warned Netanyahu's rhetoric risks regional escalation.
The unified response highlights growing pressure on Israel to address Palestinian statehood through direct negotiations rather than territorial reassignments. Over 80% of Arab respondents in a 2023 regional survey cited the Palestinian cause as central to Middle Eastern stability.
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Israeli PM's remarks on Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia condemned
cgtn.com
