Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated in a television interview that Saudi officials could establish a “Palestinian state” in their country if a Palestinian state was that important to them. This comes after Saudi Arabia previously declared that it would not establish any relations with Israel unless a Palestinian state was established, contradicting Trump’s claim that Riyadh does not demand a Palestinian state.
“The Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have large areas there” Netanyahu told the Israeli Channel 14 television station, referring to the public statements of Saudi Arabia, which have emphasized that a Palestinian state is a pre-condition for normalizing relations with Israel. Netanyahu added that he would not sign any agreement that would put the State of Israel at risk.
Saudi Arabia has reiterated its categorical rejection of Netanyahu’s statements, including the idea of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The statement did not directly address Netanyahu’s comments on the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi soil, but instead focused on the Israeli prime minister’s remarks on the displacement of Palestinians.
Egypt and Jordan have also condemned the Israeli proposals, with Cairo describing the idea as a “direct violation of Saudi sovereignty.” Jordan has expressed appreciation for the rejection of Netanyahu’s statements by Arab states, with a government spokesperson saying, “This extremist occupation mentality does not understand what the Palestinian territory means to the Palestinian people and its historical, legal and rightful connection to this land.”
The debate over the fate of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has been fueled by a shocking proposal from US President Donald Trump, who suggested on Tuesday that the US would take over the Gaza Strip, relocate the Palestinians and create a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Despite the global condemnation of Trump’s claims, the Israeli military was instructed on Thursday to prepare plans for the relocation of a large number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip via land, air and sea routes.