Saudi Arabia has welcomed the Palestinian reconciliation agreement, signed between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo. In a statement, the Riyadh government described the agreement to form a transitional government as “the most important event for the Palestinian People in 2011”.
An advisor in the office of Crown Prince Talal bin Badr Al-Saud told the official news agency of the Palestinian Authority: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes the decision to sign a reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah and calls for its implementation and the swift formation of a unity government.” This, the Saudi government believes, will allow for continued mobilisation of international support for the recognition of an independent state of Palestine within the 1967 borders, and with Jerusalem as its capital.
Prince Talal added, “We now need to intensify efforts towards the completion of establishing a state of law and institutions and push the international community towards the fulfilment of the September pledge to end the occupation, enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination, establish an independent state and provide a just solution for the refugee issue in accordance with UN Resolution 194.”
He called on the international community and the Quartet not only to recognise the reconciliation but also encourage and support it. Palestinian unity, he said, favours democracy, stability and peace in the region.