Saudi King reiterates Palestine support

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has reiterated the country’s support for Palestine in a phone call with US President Donald Trump after the heir to the throne issued comments appearing to acknowledge Israel’s right to a nation-state.
The kingdom still does not officially recognise Israel and has stated for decades that normalising relations depends on Israel’s withdrawal from lands captured in the 1967 Middle East war, which Palestine wants to use for its own state.

However, there have been signs of thawing relations including a March decision to allow Air India permission to fly over its territory on its new routes to and from Tel Aviv.
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques [King Salman} emphasised the necessity of moving the peace process track in the Middle East within the framework of international efforts, assuring the kingdom’s firm positions on the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital.”.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his appreciation to the Saudi king “for his steadfast positions in support of the Palestinian people and the cause of Jerusalem and its holy sites” during the call with Trump. –ME website