Riyadh: A high-level Palestinian delegation, headed by Vice President of the State of Palestine Hussein al-Sheikh, met on Monday with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss the latest regional and Palestinian developments. The Palestinian delegation included the Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, the Head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, Major General Majid Faraj, and the President's Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs, Majdi al-Khalidi.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Al-Sheikh conveyed greetings from President Mahmoud Abbas to Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing appreciation for Saudi Arabia's longstanding support for Palestinian rights and its efforts to mobilize international backing for a two-state solution and recognition of the State of Palestine. He also highlighted the issuance of the New York Declaration and the continuous humanitarian and development assistance provided to the Palestinian people.
The Vice President affirmed the State of Palestine's supportive and unwavering stance towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the other Gulf states, Jordan, and other Arab countries targeted by Iranian aggression. He rejected any violations of their sovereignty, security, and stability, and supported their right to ensure security and stability. Al-Sheikh stated, "We are here today to reaffirm our complete and steadfast support for our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all our Arab brothers who have been subjected to unjustified Iranian aggression. We express our profound confidence in the ability of our brothers in Saudi Arabia and the other Arab states to overcome these attacks and protect their security, stability, and people."
Al-Sheikh briefed the Saudi foreign minister on developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing the importance of efforts to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, prevent displacement, and proceed with reconstruction. He also stressed the need to exert pressure to halt unilateral actions that violate international law in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, stop settlement activity and settler terrorism, release withheld Palestinian funds, end attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites, and pursue a political process based on international legitimacy to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed the Palestinian delegation and commended the State of Palestine's supportive stance with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Arab states facing Iranian attacks. He affirmed Saudi Arabia's firm position in support of legitimate Palestinian rights, emphasizing that despite the difficult circumstances the region is experiencing, the Palestinian cause and the rights of its people will remain the central issue for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people.
The meeting addressed the latest developments in the region, ways to enhance joint Arab cooperation and coordination in confronting the dangers facing Arab countries and their peoples, as well as ways to strengthen the fraternal bilateral relations between the two countries and their brotherly peoples.
