Arab countries decry Netanyahu's proposal to establish Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

Arab countries on Saturday strongly denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, calling his scheme a violation of Palestinian and Saudi sovereignty and a violation of the norms of international law.

In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called Netanyahu's proposal "racist and anti-peace" and "an infringement on Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and stability."

The statement voiced complete support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia against the Israeli incitement and urged the international community to condemn Netanyahu's proposal.

Netanyahu proposed that "Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have plenty of land there" during an interview with Israel's Channel 14.

There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia.

Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said the Israeli statements targeted Saudi sovereignty, calling Netanyahu's comments "a violation of international law and international conventions."

"The State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine," he added on his X account.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) decried Netanyahu's comments as "unacceptable and provocative," calling them "a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter."

UAE Minister of State Khalifa Bin Shaheen Almarar reiterated his country's unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its commitment to Saudi Arabia's security, stability, and sovereignty.

The minister also reaffirmed the UAE's firm opposition to any actions that undermine the rights of the Palestinian people or force their displacement. He called for an immediate cessation of settlement activities, warning that such actions jeopardize regional stability and hinder prospects for peace.

Almarar further urged the international community, including the UN and the UN Security Council, to take decisive action against illegal practices that violate international law. He emphasized the UAE's historic commitment to defending Palestinian rights and stressed the necessity of a political solution leading to an independent Palestinian state.

"There will be no stability in the region without a two-state solution," Almarar said.

Egypt also strongly condemned the statements as "irresponsible and utterly unacceptable." Such "unbridled" remarks are a direct violation of Saudi sovereignty and a blatant breach of international law and the UN Charter and constitute a reprehensible transgression and infringement on all established diplomatic norms, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

They also threaten the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on all their national territory in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem based on the 1967 borders, it said.

Egypt categorically rejects these reckless statements that affect the security and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and are "a red line" for Egypt, it said.

Egypt also calls on the international community to condemn and denounce such remarks.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli government's words as "irresponsible remarks" in a statement, noting that the statements "represent an escalation by Israel in violating the rights of the Palestinian people."

(With input from agencies)