Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, reaffirmed on Monday that the Kingdom will not normalise relations with the Israeli occupation until a sovereign Palestinian state is established. He emphasised, “The time has come to end the conflict and realise the Palestinian state.”
His statement came during a press conference held on the sidelines of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as reported by Saudi broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya.
Prince Faisal declared:
“The time has come to end the conflict and realise the Palestinian state,”
stating that peace between “Israel” and Palestine is the fundamental gateway to achieving comprehensive regional peace.
He stressed unequivocally:
“There will be no relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Support for Truce and Humanitarian Efforts
The Saudi minister further expressed Riyadh’s support for the Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation efforts aimed at restoring a ceasefire, which would include:
- The release of prisoners,
- The withdrawal of Israeli forces,
- And the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He also referred to the role of U.S. President Donald Trump, noting his country’s involvement in de-escalation efforts and in laying groundwork for a future Palestinian state, in reference to the ongoing American diplomatic mediation.
A Joint French-Saudi Initiative for Palestine
Earlier on Monday, the ministerial conference was launched at the United Nations, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, and attended by a high-level international delegation. The primary goal of the gathering was to advance the implementation of the two-state solution and promote broader international recognition of the Palestinian state.
During the opening session, Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasised that:
“Establishing peace and security in the region begins by delivering justice to the Palestinian people and ensuring their legitimate rights.”
Originally, the International Conference on Palestine was scheduled to be held at the UN headquarters in New York from June 17 to 20, with strong international participation and joint leadership from France and Saudi Arabia. The conference aimed to address the dire situation in Gaza, revive the two-state solution, and encourage international recognition of a Palestinian state.
Israeli and U.S. Opposition
However, following a series of Israeli attacks on Iran—launched on June 13 with American support and lasting 12 days—French President Emmanuel Macron announced the postponement of the conference.
Both Israel and its primary ally, the United States, openly rejected the idea of holding an international conference in support of the two-state solution.
Strategic Context
This clear Saudi stance represents a significant message amid a region torn by war and occupation. While some Arab regimes have moved toward open normalisation with the Zionist entity, Riyadh’s position affirms that no peace or partnership can be built while Palestinian rights remain denied and occupation continues.
The Saudi declaration, made at a UN platform and under international spotlight, may serve as a political brake on Israeli ambitions to bypass the Palestinian issue and secure further Arab normalisation without concessions or accountability.
