UPDATE - Arab countries decry Israeli premier’s proposal to establish Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE; EDITS THROUGH

By Ahmad Asmar and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - Arab countries on Saturday strongly denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, calling his scheme a violation of both the kingdom's sovereignty and international law by forcing Palestinians out of their homelands.

In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called Netanyahu's proposal "racist and anti-peace” and "an infringement on Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and stability."

The statement voiced complete support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia against the Israeli incitement and urged the international community to condemn Netanyahu's statements.

Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said the Israeli statements targeted Saudi sovereignty, calling Netanyahu’s comments “a violation of international law and international conventions.”

“The State of Palestine will only be on the land of Palestine,” he added on his X account.

He also praised the Saudi stance, “which always calls for the implementation of international legitimacy and international law and is committed to the two-state solution as a basis for security, stability, and peace in the region.”

Egypt also decried Netanyahu’s comments as “irresponsible and entirely rejected.”

A Foreign Ministry statement said that Egypt “completely rejects these reckless statements that threaten the security and sovereignty of the kingdom.”

“The stability and national security of Saudi Arabia are integral to the security and stability of Egypt and the Arab states, a matter that cannot be compromised,” added the statement.

Egypt, UAE, and Sudan considered the Israeli statements “flagrantly violate international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Egypt and UAE also deemed Saudi sovereignty as “a red line.”

In a statement, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa bin Shaheen Al-Marar reiterated "the UAE's firm rejection of any infringement on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and any attempts to displace them."

Al-Marar referred to "the UAE's historic and unwavering position regarding the protection of Palestinian rights and the necessity of finding a serious political horizon that leads to the resolution of the conflict and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state."

He stated unequivocally that "there can be no stability in the region without a two-state solution."

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli government's "irresponsible remarks" in a statement, noting that the statements "represent an escalation by Israel in violating the rights of the Palestinian people."

Netanyahu has suggested that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their own homeland, dismissing any notion of Palestinian sovereignty.

"The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” Netanyahu said on Thursday during an interview with Israeli Channel 14, disregarding the long-standing Palestinian demand for self-determination.

Netanyahu also spoke about the potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia, predicting an imminent agreement.

However, the Saudi Foreign Ministry dismissed Netanyahu’s narrative, reiterating that normalization with Israel was off the table unless a Palestinian state was established—a stance Netanyahu continues to disregard.

The interview took place while Netanyahu was in Washington, DC, where he met with US President Donald Trump.