Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan thanked the European countries of Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia for their decision to recognize the State of Palestine, describing this step as a correct decision at the right time.

“These countries chose to be on the right side of history and justice,” he said while addressing a press conference of the delegation of the Arab-Islamic Joint Ministerial Committee on Gaza, held in Madrid, capital of Spain, on Wednesday.

Prince Faisal, who is the chairman of the committee, called for immediate ceasefire and the immediate access of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

“We all know that the humanitarian catastrophe continues unabated in Gaza. This is the appropriate moment for you to be the beacon of hope for a two-state solution, as well as for peaceful coexistence in the region. Therefore, we thank you and hope that others will follow your example, because the path forward is the path towards peace,” he said while emphasizing that “this is through a two-state solution, with the presence of a Palestinian state living in peace and harmony.”

The press conference was also attended by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs of Jordan Ayman Al-Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Hakan Fidan, and Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha.

In a related development, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez held a meeting with the Ministerial Committee delegation in Madrid on Wednesday. During the meeting, members of the Ministerial Committee appreciated Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine, and their commitment to continuing to provide all means of support to activate recognition of the Palestinian State in a way ensuring protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and serving security and peace in the region and the world apart from countering extremism, the spread of violence, and continued violations of international law.

The meeting reviewed the efforts of the Ministerial Committee supportive to recognizing the Palestinian state, and the urgent need to take the necessary steps to implement the two-state solution by establishing the Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in light of the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international initiatives.

The meeting discussed the efforts made to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the city of Rafah and the importance of an immediate ceasefire, and the introduction of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza.

The meeting also reviewed the mechanisms for addressing the humanitarian catastrophe facing the Gaza Strip, and stopping all unilateral and illegitimate Israeli measures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in order to achieve just and comprehensive peace, preserve the rights of the Palestinian people, and achieve security in the region.

The delegation also met with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares during their visit to Spain.