Saudi Foreign Minister: Two-State Solution Key To Middle East Peace

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to the two-state solution during the Riyadh meeting in late April and at the Ministerial Meeting held yesterday. He noted signs of consensus within the international community on securing the rights and safety of the Palestinian people.

At a press conference with Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Prince Faisal highlighted the critical situation in Gaza Strip, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire. He pointed out that the international community agrees on the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly and in a completely unacceptable way," Prince Faisal stated. He mentioned that a ministerial committee established by the joint extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit aims to address the situation in Gaza and advance the Palestinian cause. He stressed that the two-state solution is fundamental for lasting peace and security in the region.

Prince Faisal praised Norway, Spain, and Ireland for recognizing the Palestinian state and noted that other European countries are considering similar steps. He emphasized the importance of supporting Palestinian state institutions to demonstrate their capability to carry out responsibilities, including ensuring the security of neighboring states.

He also stressed the need to abide by international law. Prince Faisal remarked that if the international community complies with international law, including humanitarian law, it would signal to Israel that it is not immune from accountability and cannot indefinitely undermine the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The ministerial committee's efforts are focused on addressing immediate humanitarian needs while also working towards long-term solutions for peace and stability. The Kingdom's stance remains firm on advocating for a two-state solution as a means to achieve lasting peace in the region.

With inputs from SPA