Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, May 31: Tensions escalated in the region after Israel on Friday refused to cooperate with a planned visit by Arab foreign ministers to the occupied West Bank, where they were expected to hold talks in Ramallah. The visit, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, would have marked the first-ever trip of a Saudi top diplomat to the Palestinian territories.
According to a Saudi diplomatic source, ministers from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey were also scheduled to join the delegation. However, Israel, which controls the West Bank’s borders and airspace, has blocked the entry of the visiting dignitaries.
"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," an Israeli official said, denouncing the visit. "Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the Land of Israel. Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security."
The move comes amid heightened regional and international focus on reviving the long-stalled two-state solution. Israel’s hardline response follows its announcement this week to approve 22 new settlements in the West Bank, a decision widely condemned by the United Nations and viewed globally as a violation of international law.
During a visit to one of the areas slated for settlement recognition, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “We will build a Jewish Israeli state in Judea and Samaria,” using the biblical names for the West Bank. “The paper recognitions of a Palestinian state will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper,” he added, rejecting recent international calls for Palestinian statehood.
Despite earlier reports suggesting Saudi Arabia was inching closer to normalising ties with Israel, the ongoing Gaza war has derailed such efforts. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has firmly stated that the Kingdom will not normalise relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia and France are set to co-chair an international conference at the United Nations in June, aiming to revive peace talks and push forward the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.