Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked a new wave of controversy by suggesting that the Palestinians could establish their state in Saudi Arabia, rather than in their historic homeland.
In an interview with Israel Channel 14 on February 6, 2025, Netanyahu proposed that “the Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; They have a lot of land there. »»
His remarks are considered to be a broader rejection of Palestinian law to self -determination, and they come in the midst of an increasingly heavy diplomatic situation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu’s comments are following a year of attempts to standardize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, an initiative that seemed almost concretized in 2024, according to American officials.
However, Saudi Arabia clearly indicated that any formal relationship with Israel would depend on a clear route to the Palestinian state.
This position led to tensions, with Netanyahu, vehemently rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state, calling it “threat of security for Israel”. He added: “Especially not a Palestinian state … after October 7? Do you know what it is? There was a Palestinian state, his name was Gaza. Gaza, led by Hamas, was a Palestinian state and looks at what we got. »»
These remarks come when Netanyahu is on an official visit to the United States, where he held a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump.
During the event, Trump unveiled a controversial plan to expel the Palestinians from Gaza, proposing to transform the region into “riviera of the Mediterranean” under American control.
Netanyahu, in turn, expressed her optimism about peace with Saudi Arabia, despite their divergence on the Palestinian issue, declaring: “It is not only possible, I think that will happen.”
The press conference was followed by a declaration from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the kingdom’s commitment to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital.
The statement stressed that Saudi Arabia would not pursue diplomatic relations with Israel without a clear path to the Palestinian State.
