Foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had discussed the Palestinian state and planned a visit to end the war with Gaza.
Saudi Arabia denounced Israel for “extremism and rejection of peace” after blocking the Arab foreign minister’s planned visit to the occupied West Bank.
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Fahan Al Saud made a speech on Sunday at a joint press conference in Amman, Jordanian capital, along with his counterparts in Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain.
“The Commission’s refusal to visit the West Bank is affirmed by embodying its extremism and rejection. [a] A peaceful pathway…doubling our diplomatic efforts in the international community to face this rog arrogance strengthens our will,” Prince Faisal said.
His comments followed Israel’s decision to block the Arab delegation from reaching Ramallah, which was set to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had planned a visit as part of their efforts to support Palestinian diplomacy amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Israel controls airspace and borders on the West Bank and announced on Friday that it will not grant permission for the visit.
“Palestinian authorities have refused to condemn the October 7th massacre to this day – with the aim of hosting a provocative meeting of provocative ministers from Arab countries in Ramala to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state,” Israeli officials said that Israel would not “cooperate” with the visit.
Prince Faisal’s trip to the West Bank would have marked the first visit in recent memory by the highest Saudi Arabian officials.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking travel is another example of how Israel is killing the possibility of a “fair and comprehensive” Arab-Israel settlement.
The international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to be held in New York from June 17th to 20th to discuss the issue of the Palestinian state.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti said the meeting would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and a reconstruction plan to ensure that the Palestinians remain on their land and that the Israelis will thwart plans to drive them out.
Israel is increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries, supporting two states’ solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under which there is an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
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