By Muslim Mirror Staff
Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, said that his country is ready to normalise ties with Israel if it ends occupations of all Arab territories and allow the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“The official and latest Saudi position is that we are prepared to normalize relations with Israel as soon as Israel implements the elements of the Saudi peace initiative that was presented in 2002. That calls for the end of occupation of all Arab territories occupied in 1967 and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and granting the Palestinian people the right of self-determination,” he said in an interview with Arab News.
“As soon as that happens, not only Saudi Arabia but the entire Muslim world, all 57 countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, would follow suit in terms of recognizing the state of Israel and establishing relations with her,” he added.
He further decries Israeli practices in West Bank and Gaza. He said denying the Palestinians their dignity and their rights is wrong.
“Time does not change right or wrong. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is wrong no matter how long it lasts. Israeli practices in the West Bank and Gaza — with regards to settlements and with regards to the siege and with regards to denying the Palestinians their dignity and their rights — is wrong, and that doesn’t change,” Al-Mouallimi insisted.
