President meets with Saudi Crown Prince

RIYADH - Ma'an - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met on Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. During the meeting, the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and the region were discussed, as well as the efforts made by Palestinians and Arabs to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the complete and immediate withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip. The President warned of the danger of Israeli statements and practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the dangerous statements made by extremist Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir about building a synagogue in Al-Aqsa Mosque. It was agreed to take a number of measures to ensure that they are not implemented, and to call on Arab and Islamic countries and the international community to condemn and reject such statements and practices, given the risks th ey pose to international stability and security. The President thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the Kingdom's firm stances towards the Palestinian people and their just cause in all international forums, and the continuous Saudi support at all levels, political, financial and others, the latest of which is the humanitarian aid provided to our people in the Gaza Strip. The President stressed the importance of coordinating positions between the State of Palestine and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding ways to stop the bloody aggression launched by the Israeli occupation authorities against our people, our land and our holy sites, stressing the great and important role played by Saudi Arabia in this regard. The President informed the Saudi Crown Prince of his initiative to go to the Gaza Strip with members of the Palestinian leadership to stop the war of extermination against our people, the withdrawal of the Isr aeli occupation forces from the entire Gaza Strip, and the assumption of the responsibilities of the State of Palestine, which has jurisdiction over the entire territory of the State of Palestine, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, towards our people. The meeting also touched on the importance of the political move being made by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee headed by Saudi Arabia to achieve greater recognition of the State of Palestine and its full membership in the United Nations, and to advance the efforts of the State of Palestine in diplomatic and legal action and in the United Nations to end the occupation of all the occupied Palestinian territories with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to implement the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. In turn, the Saudi Crown Prince reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position in supporting the Palestinian people and their just rights on the basis of international legitimacy, which guarantees their right to freedom and independence, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in implementation of international legitimacy resolutions. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia and its people stand firmly and steadfastly by the Palestinian right, and support the Palestinian political movement aimed at stopping the aggression, and proceeding with a political process that ends the Israeli occupation and embodies the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, praising the efforts made by the Arab Islamic Committee led by Saudi Arabia to support the Palestinian political steps to obtain more recognition of the State of Palestine and obtain full membership in the United Nations. The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al-Sheikh, Head of the General Intelligence Service Major General Majed Faraj, Diplomatic Advisor to the President Majdi Al-Khalidi, and Ambassador of the State of Pal estine to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bassam Al-Agha. Source: Maan News Agency