Saudi FM: 'Israel' blocking Ramallah visit confirms its 'extremism'
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Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud condemns "Israel" for denying entry to an Arab delegation visiting the occupied West Bank.
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This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (seated in person L to R) Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit attending a teleconference meeting in Amman with the Palestinian president and foreign minister in Ramallah on June 1, 2025 (Jordanian Foreign Ministry/AFP)
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, strongly condemned "Israel’s" refusal to allow an Arab ministerial delegation to visit the occupied West Bank, describing the decision as evidence of its “extremism and rejection of peace.”
His remarks were made during a joint press conference in Amman alongside his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain.
The ministers had convened as part of an Arab contact group and were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
“Israel’s refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for (a) peaceful pathway,” said Prince Faisal.
“It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance.”
Arab contact group denied entry to Ramallah
The planned visit by the Arab delegation, which included foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, was blocked by Israeli authorities.
Palestinian Authority officials confirmed on Saturday that "Israel" had decided not to permit the meeting, which was scheduled for Sunday.
The visit would have marked a rare and significant event, the first by a high-ranking Saudi official to the occupied West Bank in recent memory.
An Israeli official claimed the ministers were planning to participate in what was described as a “provocative meeting” aimed at advancing discussions on Palestinian statehood.
'Israel' killing any chance of settlement, Jordan FM says
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned the move, stating that preventing the delegation from entering the West Bank was yet another example of how "Israel" is “killing any chance of a just and comprehensive” Arab-Israeli settlement.
A high-level international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to take place in New York from June 17 to 20.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the importance of ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that the conference will focus on security arrangements following a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as plans for reconstruction.
Abdelatty underscored that these measures are vital to ensuring Palestinians remain on their land and to prevent any Israeli attempts at displacement.
"Israel" is increasingly under pressure from the United Nations and various European governments that continue to advocate for a "two-state solution".
The proposed framework envisions an independent Palestinian state existing alongside "Israel", as a path toward resolving the decades-long struggle.
Read more: Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit
