'Take the Israelis to Alaska', Saudi official mocks Netanyahu and Trump
A member of the powerful Saudi Shura Council, Yousef bin Trad Al-Saadoun, ridiculed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion of establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, instead proposing that US President Donald Trump should instead locate Israelis to Alaska and later to Greenland 'after annexing it.'
Writing in the Saudi newspaper Okaz on Friday, Al-Saadoun criticised Trump's approach to Middle East policy, arguing that reckless decisions stem from ignoring expert advice and dismissing dialogue.
He warned that "Zionists and their allies" would fail to manipulate Saudi leadership through media pressure and political manoeuvres.
Taking a swipe at the Trump administration, Al-Saadoun said "the official foreign policy of the United States will seek the illegal occupation of sovereign land and the ethnic cleansing of its inhabitants, which are the Israeli approach and are considered crimes against humanity. Anyone who follows the path of the emergence and continuation of Israel clearly realizes that this plan was certainly formulated and approved by the Zionist entity, and was handed over to their ally to read from the White House podium."
"The Zionists and their supporters must realize well that they will not be able to lure the Saudi leadership and government into the traps of media maneuvers and false political pressures." he wrote.
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The Saudi Shura Council is a consultative assembly that advises the king on legislative and policy matters but lacks legislative authority. Its members are appointed by the king and discuss laws, economic plans, and social policies.
Israeli call for Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia
On Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu said during an interview with Israel's Channel 14: "The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there."
'Red line': Egypt condemns Netanyahu's call for Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia Read More »
The remarks came after Riyadh reiterated that it would only normalise relations with Israel if there was a clear pathway towards Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian and Egyptian officials have condemned Netanyahu's suggestion to establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, calling it an attack on the Kingdom's sovereignty.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the proposal as 'racist and anti-peace,' labelling it a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and stability. Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said Netanyahu's remarks disregarded international law and conventions, stressing, 'The State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine.'
Egypt also slammed the comments as 'irresponsible and unacceptable,' with its Foreign Ministry stating that Netanyahu's remarks infringe on Saudi sovereignty and violate both international law and the UN Charter.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that normalisation with Israel hinges on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
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