JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah on Wednesday for an official visit, during which he held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions focused on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and ways to strengthen Saudi-Palestinian relations, according to a statement by the Saudi news agency SPA.
Both Abbas and Prince Mohammed emphasized “the continuation of efforts exerted to guarantee the legitimate rights of Palestinians in establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.” The peace agreement, known as the Arab Peace Initiative, dates back to 2002 and envisions ending the long-standing conflict with Israel by establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
During the meeting, Abbas expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s support of the Palestinian cause and its efforts to advocate for the legitimate rights to freedom, independence, and sovereignty of the Palestinian state, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative.
The meeting between Abbas and Prince Mohammed was attended by Prince Turki bin Mohammed, a Saudi minister of state, and other prominent Saudi officials. Abbas arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and was welcomed by Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah.
Bassem Al Agha, the Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, praised the consistent stance of the Saudi leadership towards Palestine and highlighted that communication between the two sides has been ongoing. Al Agha stated that Abbas would discuss with King Salman and Prince Mohammed the recent “Zionist crimes” in Al Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as the suffering of the Palestinian people due to the ongoing violence.
The visit comes at a time of increased tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem, following the rise of an ultraright-wing government in Israel in late December. There have been incidents of violence, including Israeli police raids on Al Aqsa Mosque, which they claimed were to remove extremists armed with firecrackers and stones. Israel has also conducted airstrikes on targets in Syria and Lebanon in response to rockets fired from those countries.
Saudi Arabia and other regional states have condemned Israel’s actions and expressed concern that they undermine the two-state solution and opportunities for achieving a just and comprehensive peace. Foreign ministers of nine Arab states, including the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, as well as Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, issued a joint statement denouncing the attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque. They emphasized the need for Israel to respect the historical and legal status quo of the holy site and recognize that Al Aqsa Mosque is purely a place of worship for Muslims.
The talks between Abbas and Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia highlight the ongoing efforts to address the Palestinian cause and strengthen relations between the two sides, as they continue to work towards a resolution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
