Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s decision to block a delegation of Arab foreign ministers from visiting the occupied West Bank, labeling it as evidence of “extremism and rejection of peace.”
The planned trip to Ramallah aimed to advance discussions on Palestinian statehood and address the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
On Saturday, Israel announced it would not permit the visit by foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The delegation intended to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to bolster diplomatic efforts amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel, which illegally controls the West Bank’s airspace and borders, cited the meeting’s agenda — promoting a Palestinian state — as “provocative.”
An Israeli official stated, “The Palestinian Authority – which to this day refuses to condemn the October 7 massacre – intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
During a joint press conference in Amman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud criticized Israel’s move, saying:
Israel’s refusal of the committee’s visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for [a] peaceful pathway … It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance.
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The visit would have marked a rare trip by a senior Saudi official to the West Bank.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi echoed the sentiment, stating that blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was “killing any chance of a just and comprehensive” Arab-Israeli settlement.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the need for continued efforts to secure Palestinian rights.
The ministers’ remarks come ahead of an international conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for June 17-20 in New York.
The conference will focus on Palestinian statehood, post-ceasefire security arrangements in Gaza, and reconstruction plans to prevent Palestinian displacement.
Abdelatty noted, “The conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them.”
Israel faces growing international criticism, with the United Nations and European nations advocating for a two-state solution to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The blocked visit underscores ongoing challenges to achieving a peaceful resolution.