NEW YORK — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned on Monday that peace and security cannot be achieved through the denial of rights or by imposing a reality through force, stressing that Israel's current policies undermine regional stability, erode prospects for peace, and foster a climate of violence and extremism. In a speech delivered during the second session of the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution — co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France at the United Nations headquarters in New York — Prince Faisal outlined the Kingdom's position amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "This conference convenes under continued escalation and grave violations against thousands of civilians, including starvation, bombardment, and forced displacement," he said, adding that Israel's systematic obstruction of aid efforts has deepened suffering in Gaza. He also highlighted continued Israeli violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including arbitrary restrictions, aggressive settlement expansion, and deliberate attempts to alter the religious and demographic character of the area. Prince Faisal praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his "genuine commitment to peace" and voiced strong support for the reform efforts led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa's government. "These efforts deserve international recognition and support," he said, urging the global community to help empower Palestinian institutions and strengthen the capacity of the Palestinian people. "The Kingdom believes that peace cannot be built without economically and developmentally empowering the Palestinian people," Prince Faisal continued. He noted that Saudi Arabia is working with the Palestinian Authority to expand cooperation in education, human capital development, digital transformation, and partnerships with the private sector to support comprehensive and sustainable Palestinian development. He also welcomed the World Bank Group's recent decision to allocate an annual $300 million grant to the trust fund for Gaza and the West Bank, aimed at enhancing Palestinian resilience and supporting development and stability efforts. Prince Faisal reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia has consistently worked to realize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, describing this as the cornerstone for any just and lasting peace. He also welcomed France's announcement to recognize the State of Palestine, describing it as a responsible and meaningful step, and called on other countries to follow suit. "The Kingdom urges the international community to engage in an irreversible and credible process to end the occupation and achieve security and peace for all peoples in the region," he said.
