Saudi FM: No solution to Palestine-Israel conflict without independent Palestinian state

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan told Saudi state TV network Al Ekhbariya that “There is no way to resolve the conflict other than by ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”

“People have begun to lose hope in the two-state solution,” said Bin Farhan, adding that the solution “must return to the forefront.”

The Saudi minister called on the occupying state to deal seriously to settle the conflict with the Palestinians, stressing the need to find a way to resolve the Palestinian issue through negotiations aimed at reaching serious agreements.

The minister’s statements came at a time when the US is seeking to reach a normalisation agreement between the kingdom and the Israeli occupation.

Yesterday, the US State Department denied circulating reports that Riyadh had informed the US administration to halt any discussions regarding normalisation with Tel Aviv, which were reported by the Saudi newspaper Elaph.

Elaph claimed that it quoted an official in the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that Riyadh had told the US administration to freeze any discussions regarding normalising relations with Israel.

It added that the official said opposition by members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government for any gesture towards the Palestinians obliterate any possibility of progress with the Palestinians, and thus, with the Saudis.

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