Latest news with #Saudi-led
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister delays West Bank visit after Israel blocks it
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, has postponed his planned visit to the occupied West Bank after Israel blocked the trip, a Saudi source told Reuters. According to Palestinian sources, the visit was arranged at the invitation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to host a Saudi-led delegation of Arab foreign ministers in Ramallah. Reporting by Reuters
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israel's West Bank Visit Ban Triggers Saudi Arabia? Riyadh Takes Bold Decision
Israel has reportedly decided to block a delegation of Saudi-led Middle Eastern foreign ministers from making a visit to the occupied West Bank. The foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan were slated to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday. According to The Times of Israel, citing a senior Israeli official, the Palestinian Authority was planning to use the delegation's visit to 'promote the establishment of a Palestinian state.' Watch this video to know more.
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Saudi foreign minister delays West Bank trip after Israel blocked it, source says
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has delayed a planned trip to the West Bank after Israel blocked it, a Saudi source told Reuters. Palestinian sources said the visit was at the invitation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to host a Saudi-led delegation of Arab foreign ministers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Israel 'will not cooperate' with Arab ministers' West Bank visit: official The ministers needed approval from Israel who controls access to the West Bank.
Egypt Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Israel will block rare Saudi-led ministerial delegation from visiting West Bank, official says, as anger over Gaza grows
CNN — Israel has said it will 'not cooperate' with plans from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to host a Saudi-led delegation of foreign ministers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli official told CNN on Friday. In order to travel to the meeting in Ramallah, ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey needed approval from Israel who controls access to the West Bank. It would have been the highest-level Saudi visit to the area since it was occupied by Israel in 1967. The Israeli official dubbed the meeting 'provocative' and told CNN 'Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.' The official added that the PA 'must stop violating its agreements with Israel on all levels.' It is unclear which agreements they are referring to. On Saturday, a Saudi source familiar with the matter told CNN that Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will travel to the West Bank on Sunday and plans to meet PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Hussein Al-Sheikh, vice president of the PA, told CNN on Friday that an Arab ministerial delegation led by Prince Faisal planned to arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday to meet Abbas. The visit would come as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman pushes for international recognition of Palestinian statehood as the war in Gaza drags on and as prospects of Saudi-Israeli normalization grow more distant. Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mazen Ghoneim told Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya that the Saudi foreign minister would be joined by the top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan and 'other countries.' 'The ministerial visit… is considered a clear message. The Palestinian cause is a central issue to Arabs and Muslims,' Ghoneim said. An Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN that Israeli authorities were notified of the visit. CNN has reached out to the governments of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Qatar for comment. Shaul Arieli, the head of T-Politography, a think tank which studies the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said it would be the first such high-level delegation to visit the occupied West Bank since Israel seized the territory in 1967. He told CNN the visit would be 'unprecedented' and underscores a rise in Saudi support for the Palestinian Authority that emerged after the start of the war in Gaza. 'It's a dramatic change,' Arieli said. The Saudis have made clear since the conflict began that 'they support the two-state solution according to '67 borders, they support the establishment of the capital of a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, and they are ready tosupport the budget of the Palestinian Authority.' Israeli armored vehicles and soldiers are stationed in central Jenin, West Bank on Tuesday. Mojahid Nawahda/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images CNN understands that Saudi Arabia is frustrated at Israel's refusal to end the war in Gaza and is exerting intense diplomatic efforts to convince Western states to recognize Palestinian statehood, including the United States. The kingdom is confident that France will be among the states that will do so in June. Riyadh is also working to prop up the Palestinian Authority as it sees no viable alternative to its role as the political representative of the Palestinian people. In his initial term, US President Donald Trump brokered landmark normalization deals between Israel and multiple Arab states. Yet, his primary ambition remains securing an agreement between Saudi Arabia, a key Muslim power, and Israel. Normalization talks between the kingdom and Israel were progressing before Hamas' October 7 attack. Saudi Arabia was to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and in exchange receive a lucrative defense treaty with Washington, including the possibility of a nuclear program in the kingdom. But as the death toll in Gaza rose and anger spread across the Arab and Muslim world, Saudi Arabia told US officials that it would not normalize relations unless Israel agreed to a pathway for a Palestinian state and 'calm in Gaza.' Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman doubled down in his criticism of Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza — a claim Israel has denied. His top diplomat told CNN last year that recognition of Israel would not happen without a Palestinian state. In June, Saudi Arabia is expected to co-chair with France a high-level conference in New York for a two-state solution, which envisions the creation of a Palestinian state beside Israel. Speaking in Singapore on Friday, Macron said the eventual recognition of a Palestinian state, was 'not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.' 'What we are building over the coming weeks is obviously a political response to the crisis (in Gaza). And yes, it's a necessity. Because today, over and above the current humanitarian tragedy, it is the very possibility of a Palestinian state that is being questioned.' he said. He warned that Israel has 'hours or days' to improve humanitarian situation in Gaza or face 'tougher' European stance. Riyadh appointed a non-resident ambassador to the Palestinian territories in 2023, weeks before Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. The ambassador, Nayef Al Sudairi visited the West Bank in September 2023 to present his credentials to Abbas in what was the highest-level official Saudi visit in decades at the time. Historically, two Saudi kings have visited Jerusalem, including King Saud in 1954, and King Faisal in 1966.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Yemen: UN Warns Against Houthi-Israel Escalation, Calls For Dialogue
On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen's main airport in the capital, Sana'a, destroying the last operational Yemenia Airways plane, according to media reports. The attack came a day after the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, fired missiles at Israel. Fragile situation worsening In Yemen, the rebels have been fighting with Government troops, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for over a decade. But since the start of the war in Gaza they have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, as an act of solidarity with Palestinians. 'The ongoing military confrontation between the Houthis and Israel is exacerbating an already very fragile situation in Yemen and the broader region,' said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. 'Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Sana'a airport in Yemen and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, are unacceptable.' He said the strike on Sana'a airport and the destruction of the civilian aircraft 'deprives many Yemenis of a critical means to leave the country for medical, educational, family or religious regions, especially at a time when thousands of pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj.' De-escalation and dialogue The Spokesman called on all stakeholders, including the Houthis, to de-escalate and exercise restraint, uphold their obligations under international law, and protect civilian infrastructure. He also urged the warring parties to return to the intra-Yemeni dialogue, with the support of the region, as the only viable path toward lasting peace and security. In related developments, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen concluded a visit to Oman's capital Muscat on Wednesday, his office said in a statement. Hans Grundberg met senior Omani officials, members of Ansar Allah leadership and representatives of the diplomatic community, including senior Iranian officials. 'Discussions focused on the cessation of hostilities between the United States and Ansar Allah and the need to translate this into sustainable progress that benefits all Yemenis and includes guarantees for the region and international community,' the statement said. The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Oman and came into effect on 6 May following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Free detained personnel Mr. Grundberg further addressed regional dynamics and the shared responsibility of all to support de-escalation and a UN-led political process for a durable and comprehensive resolution to the conflict in Yemen. As the Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain scores of personnel from the UN, non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions, the Special Envoy called for their immediate and unconditional release in all his engagements. 'He stressed that their prolonged detention is not only unjustifiable but undermines the UN's and international community's ability to provide humanitarian support to millions of Yemenis,' the statement said.
