In a significant statement reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s longstanding stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the Kingdom would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is realised.
The statement was delivered during the inauguration of the ninth session of the Shura Council on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
He said, “We reiterate Saudi Arabia’s firm rejection and strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authority’s crimes against the Palestinian people, which flagrantly violate international and humanitarian law, adding to their long and bitter suffering.
“The kingdom will not cease its tireless efforts in pursuit of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that no diplomatic ties with Israel will be established until this is achieved,” he added.
He further said that the Kingdom is keen to cooperate with all influential countries in the international community, affirming its certainty that what protects humanity and preserves its civilisational values is the common pursuit of a better future based on fruitful cooperation between countries and people, respecting the independence of countries and their values, adhering to the principle of good neighbourliness, non-interference in their internal affairs, and avoiding resorting to violence to resolve disputes.
“The Kingdom also seeks to enhance regional and international security and peace by making efforts to reach political solutions to the crises in Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and others, and supports solutions in international crises such as the Russian-Ukrainian crisis,” he added.
The crown prince outlined the kingdom’s foreign policy, expressing a commitment to working with all influential nations in the international community. He emphasised that safeguarding humanity and preserving its values depends on the collective pursuit of a better future through fruitful cooperation, respect for national sovereignty, sound neighbourly principles, non-interference in internal affairs, and avoiding resorting to force in resolving conflicts.
Speaking on the country’s achievements in the last few years, Prince Salman said, “Our government has achieved many fundamental achievements during this incredible journey, and among them are the non-oil activities in the Kingdom, which recorded their highest contribution to the real GDP at 50% last year. This enhances the sustainability and comprehensiveness of growth, achieving high quality in economic diversification.
“The Public Investment Fund continues its role in achieving its goals of being a driving force for investment. Unemployment among male and female citizens recorded its lowest historical level in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 7.6 %, while 12.8% in 2017.
“The percentage of homeownership among citizens increased from 47% in 2016 to more than 63%. In the field of tourism, achievements preceded the target date, as the national tourism strategy, which was launched in 2019, set a target of 100 million tourists in 2030, and this target was exceeded and reached 109 million tourists in 2023.
“The Kingdom has achieved 6th place among the most competitive countries. With the exploration of natural resources, the Kingdom has become one of the world’s largest stores of natural resources. Your country has also advanced in renewable energy, becoming one of its most active players regionally and internationally.” He stated.
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