The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, spoke at the UN General Assembly and claimed that "the security of the Middle East requires the acceleration of a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Middle East region is in dire need of joint efforts in order to establish security and stability and provide a better future that meets the aspirations of nations for development and prosperity."
The prince also demanded that Lebanon not be a starting point for drug smuggling and other crimes that "threaten the security and stability of the region", and said that Iran must meet its nuclear obligations and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "We call on the international community to ensure that the Middle East is free of weapons of mass destruction," he said.
#SaudiArabia foreign minister tells Al Arabiya TV that Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s statement on the two-state solution with Palestinians was “positive” if it was translated into actions.https://t.co/4UFRUS7sWS
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) September 23, 2022
Immediately after Lapid’s speech, the Saudi minister sided with the words of Prime Minister Lapid at the United Nations and said that "his statement would be good if it was translated into actions, in order to reach peace we need direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
PM @yairlapid makes a bold speech at #UNGA, confirming in clear words #Israel's support for independent #Palestine and two-state solution to end conflict, offers a "comprehensive plan" to "rebuild #Gaza," and extends hand for peace to nations "from #SaudiArabia to #Indonesia": https://t.co/eVjYjZyKZi
— Ahmed Quraishi (@_AhmedQuraishi) September 24, 2022
Last February, the Saudi Foreign Minister told Israeli reporters that "Israel's integration into the region will be a huge gain not only for Israel itself but for the entire region, but without addressing the core problems of the Palestinian people and granting respect and sovereignty to the Palestinian people through the establishment of a Palestinian state, the instability and risks to its security will continue for Israel and for the security of the entire region.”
His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Furhan Al-Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 @UN #GeneralDebate
— Journal of the United Nations (@Journal_UN_ONU) September 24, 2022
🔗Access the recording and transcript of the statement here: https://t.co/zEyV4XI0wp#UNJournal #UNGA
© UN Photo/Cia Pak pic.twitter.com/fmTrP13poW
"The priority now is to find an arrangement so that the Israelis and the Palestinians can sit together and have a peace process that can be worked on. This will make it easier for all the countries that do not yet have relations with Israel. For us, this will happen when a just solution to the Palestinian issue is found," the Saudi official added.
Foreign Minister before the United Nations:
— ﮼ابوخالد (@AzeezLazez) September 25, 2022
Saudi Arabia continues to achieve the aspirations of future generations and improve the quality of life. 🥹🫡 https://t.co/xh4gkzmVW1
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas who also spoke at the UN general assembly referenced Lapid in his speech. “I heard President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid who said they support the two-state solution. We are thankful for that. But the real test for the seriousness of this position is if the Israeli government goes back to the negotiations table immediately." Abbas then added that “We have no partner in Israel we can talk to."
