Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Addresses UN Conference On Palestine And Two-State Solution

At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered Saudi Arabia's address during a high-level conference on resolving the Palestinian issue and implementing the Two-State Solution. This event, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, took place amid escalating violence affecting thousands of civilians through starvation, bombing, and displacement.

Prince Faisal highlighted that Israeli actions have extended to the West Bank and Jerusalem. These include arbitrary restrictions and settlement policies aimed at altering religious and demographic characteristics. He stressed that peace cannot be achieved by denying rights or imposing realities by force. Such policies foster instability and extremism, threatening both regional and global security.

The Kingdom is committed to empowering Palestinians economically and developmentally. Prince Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia is enhancing cooperation with the Palestinian Authority in education, human capacity development, digital transformation support, and private sector collaboration. These efforts aim to advance the Palestinian economy towards comprehensive and sustainable development.

Prince Faisal expressed gratitude for President Mahmoud Abbas's dedication to peace and Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa's reform efforts. He urged international support for these initiatives to build Palestinian capacities and strengthen national institutions through backing the Palestinian National Authority's reforms.

The World Bank Group's decision to grant Palestine approximately $300 million annually was welcomed by Prince Faisal. This funding aims to bolster Palestinians' ability to face challenges while achieving development and stability in Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Since 2002’s Arab Peace Initiative adoption, Saudi Arabia has consistently worked towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is seen as essential for achieving just peace and security in the region.

The Kingdom appreciates France's commitment to recognizing Palestine as a state, reflecting support for Palestinians' right to self-determination. Prince Faisal urged other nations to take similar steps towards ending occupation and ensuring regional security.

The conference was attended by notable figures including Saudi Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Advisor Prince Musab bin Mohammed Al Farhan, Deputy Minister Abdullah bin Zarah, UN Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Advisor Mohammed Alyahya, and Counsellor Dr. Manal Radwan.

With inputs from SPA