Abbas welcomes Saudi refusal to normalise with Israel without independent State of Palestine 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed on Wednesday the “courageous and strong” statements made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman while rejecting the establishment of relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

“The Kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that,” Bin Salman told the country’s Shura (Consultative) Council.

Abbas expressed his “utmost appreciation” for the position taken by Saudi Arabia on this issue, calling Bin Salman’s statement “courageous and strong”. It was, he said, confirmation of the “strength of the unified Arab and Islamic position supporting the legitimate rights” of the Palestinian people. “We welcome such support for our efforts to stop the ongoing aggression against our people, our land and our holy sites, and ending the Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine.”

The PA president extended the gratitude of the Palestinian people and their leadership to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince for the Kingdom’s genuine support, especially in international forums through its chairmanship of the Arab-Islamic Committee.

“These steadfast Saudi positions… are a continuation of the policy supporting the rights of our people and their struggle for freedom and independence in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative,” added Abbas.

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