Netanyahu's remarks meant to distract from Gaza war crimes: S. Arabia
3 Min Read
The Saudi Foreign Ministry criticized the "extremist occupying mentality" that fails to understand the deep-rooted historical, emotional, and legal ties of Palestinians to their land.
-
A bird sits by Saudi Arabia's flag on the rooftop of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, October 14, 2018. (AP)
The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday its rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements about the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi land, calling them an attempt to divert attention from "Israel's" ongoing crimes in Gaza.
In a statement, the ministry denounced Netanyahu's remarks as a deliberate distraction from the Israeli occupation's ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and a continuation of extremist rhetoric that disregards Palestinian sovereignty.
The statement reaffirmed that "the Palestinian people have a legitimate right to their land; they are not intruders or immigrants who can be expelled at the will of the oppressive Israeli occupation."
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli actions in Gaza
Responding to Netanyahu's comments, the Saudi Foreign Ministry criticized the "extremist occupying mentality" that fails to understand the deep-rooted historical, emotional, and legal ties of Palestinians to their land.
"This extremist occupying mentality does not comprehend the emotional, historical, and legal significance of Palestinian land to the Palestinian people, nor does it recognize that the Palestinian people fundamentally deserve the right to life," the statement read.
The ministry went on to highlight the devastating toll of Israeli aggression in Gaza, stating:
"This extremist occupying mentality has completely destroyed Gaza and has killed and wounded 160,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, without the slightest sense of humanity or moral responsibility."
UAE joins Saudi Arabia in rejecting Netanyahu's proposal
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also strongly condemned Netanyahu's remarks, calling them "unacceptable and provocative". In a statement released Saturday, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the proposal as a “blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
The UAE also stressed that Saudi Arabia's sovereignty is a "red line", affirming that it will not allow any foreign power to impose conditions on its land or compromise Palestinian rights.
Stressing the urgent need to halt Israeli settlement expansion, the UAE warned that such policies "threaten regional stability and undermine the chances of peace and coexistence."
Saudi Arabia holds Israeli extremism responsible for blocking peace
The Saudi Foreign Ministry further accused Israeli leaders of systematically obstructing peace efforts, stating, "Those who hold these extremist views are the ones who have prevented Israel from embracing peace—by rejecting peaceful coexistence, refusing Arab-led peace initiatives, and systematically oppressing the Palestinian people for over 75 years."
With regional opposition mounting against Israeli policies, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have reaffirmed their commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Read more: Netanyahu moves to sabotage ceasefire talks: Israeli media
