Saudi Arabia welcomes recognition of Palestine by France, Belgium, others

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra, and San Marino.

The move was announced during the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

“The successive recognitions of Palestine by states confirm the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the establishment of their state, the ability to live on their land in security and peace, and the realization of their aspirations for stability and prosperity,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Kingdom reiterated its call for all countries to recognize a Palestinian state and to take effective measures in support of the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution. Such steps, it said, would “end the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, safeguard their inalienable rights, and enable all countries in the region to live in lasting security and peace.”