Israel will block the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates from visiting the West Bank on Sunday, in what was planned as a diplomatic visit to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state.
According to Israeli media reports citing sources within the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Friday evening, the delegation will be barred from entering due to concerns the visit would be "provocative."
Earlier on Friday, Saudi diplomatic sources confirmed that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was scheduled to become the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the West Bank since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.
Faisal, along with his Jordanian, Egyptian, and Emirati counterparts, was expected to travel to Ramallah—the administrative center of the Palestinian Authority (PA)—to meet with PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The visit was intended to include discussions on the formation of an independent Palestinian state.
The meeting was seen as a precursor to a Saudi- and French-led conference next month at the United Nations in New York, where reviving the “two-state solution” will be the central topic.
Some reports suggest France is considering formally recognizing the Palestinian state during the upcoming conference. French President Emmanuel Macron stated last month that France could take such a step as early as June.
Israel’s decision to block Sunday’s planned visit is widely viewed as an attempt to obstruct or potentially derail next month’s conference. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly condemned the initiative.
Nevertheless, momentum behind the revival of the two-state solution has grown significantly since October 7, 2023. Prior to that date, the initiative had been largely sidelined by the Abraham Accords—U.S.-brokered agreements that saw several Arab states normalize relations with Israel while bypassing the Palestinian issue.
Since October 7, 2023, nine countries have officially recognized the Palestinian state, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain. Malta announced earlier this week that it is prepared to do so in June.