Saudi Arabia rejects Israel’s call for a Palestinian state on its land

Saudi Arabia has condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion that a Palestinian state could be established on Saudi land, Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on February 9th.

The country has said that Netanyahu’s remarks are an attempt to divert attention from Israel’s actions in Gaza.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on February 6th, Netanyahu said: “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.” His comments sparked immediate backlash, with Saudi Arabia issuing a firm rejection.

The kingdom’s foreign ministry dismissed the remarks as “extremist” and reaffirmed its commitment to Palestinian statehood. It accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza and denounced the destruction inflicted on the territory.

It further criticised Israel for having “killed and injured more than 160,000, most of them children and women, without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility.”

Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Iraq, also condemned Netanyahu’s remarks. Saudi Arabia welcomed their support and stressed that the Palestinian people “are not intruders or immigrants” but have a legitimate right to their land. The kingdom said lasting peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution.

Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump discussed Saudi-Israel normalisation in Washington, with Netanyahu telling reporters: “It is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen.” The foreign ministry emphasised its “firm and unwavering” stance of not establishing diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is created with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), called Netanyahu’s comments “a violation of international law and international conventions.” Al-Sheikh said “the State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine,” and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s support.

Egypt also criticised Netanyahu’s remarks, calling them “irresponsible” and warning that Saudi sovereignty is a “red line” that must not be crossed.

This comes after regional leaders expressed their outrage and concerns over remarks made by Donald Trump about relocating Gaza’s population. According to The National, Trump insisted on January 30th that Egypt and Jordan would eventually accept Palestinians from Gaza, despite Arab nations’ firm rejection of the idea.

Middle East Eye via Reuters, The National