UAE condemns Israeli PM Netanyahu's statements about Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

The UAE strongly condemned and denounced the unacceptable and provocative statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The country affirmed its categorical rejection of these statements, which are a blatant violation of the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter.

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Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, expressed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates' stance with the Kingdom against any threat to its security, stability and sovereignty.

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He stressed that Saudi Arabia's sovereignty is a "red line" and that the UAE does not allow any country to cross or encroach on it.

Al Marar also stressed the UAE's categorical rejection of any infringement on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people or attempts to displace them. He called for the need to halt settlement activities that threaten regional stability and undermine opportunities for peace and coexistence.

Al Marar also urged the international community, the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities and put an end to illegal practices that contravene international law.

He reiterated the UAE's firm historical position towards preserving the rights of the Palestinian people, and the necessity of finding a serious political horizon that leads to resolving the conflict and establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state. He stressed that there is no stability in the region except through a two-state solution.

'Saudi state'

This statement came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to an interviewer this week on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14. Netanyahu appeared to be joking when he responded to an interviewer who misspoke by saying "Saudi state" instead of "Palestinian state" before correcting himself.

"A Palestinian state," Netanyahu said, correcting the interviewer.

"Unless you want the Palestinian state to be in Saudi Arabia, they have a lot of territory," Netanyahu added, smiling during the interview, conducted in Washington.

'Irresponsible statements'

Earlier on Saturday, Egypt condemned statements by Israeli officials suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory as "irresponsible".

Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement the idea was a "direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty" and that the kingdom's security was a "red line for Egypt".

The Egyptian statement did not directly refer to Netanyahu but said such remarks were "reprehensible aggression and an infringement of diplomatic norms".

Arab Parliament on Saturday also strongly condemned the "irresponsible statements" made by Israel that called for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, warned that such statements pose a serious threat to regional stability, escalate conflicts, and endanger global peace and security.

Al-Yamahi also affirmed the Arab Parliament's categorical rejection of these remarks that, he said, infringe upon the sovereignty, security, and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also noted that such statements are...violations of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, adding that the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of Arab national security.

He also underscored that such remarks represent a blatant violation of the Palestinian people's legitimate and inalienable rights to establish an independent state on their entire national territory, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, in accordance with the borders of June 4, 1967.

Furthermore, he expressed the Arab Parliament's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and the well-being of its people.

Trump's proposal

President Donald Trump suggested this week that the US take control of Gaza from Israel and create a "Riviera of the Middle East" after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, including in Egypt and Jordan. Arab nations want to see a two-state solution with a separate Palestinian homeland alongside Israel.

Trump later said Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian state as a condition for normalising ties with Israel. But Saudi Arabia rebuffed his statements, and said it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Any suggestion that Palestinians leave Gaza, territory they want to form part of an independent state, has been anathema to the Palestinian leadership for generations and neighbouring Arab states have rejected it since the Gaza war began.

Trump's plan has received global condemnation, with regional and global leaders saying such a move would threaten regional stability. Trump said on Friday he was in no rush to implement his plan to take over and redevelop Gaza.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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