Israel-Hamas war a turning point in search for just solution to Palestinian issue: former Saudi intelligence chief

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Updated 19 November 2023
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Israel-Hamas war a turning point in search for just solution to Palestinian issue: former Saudi intelligence chief

  • Prince Turki Al-Faisal said conflict represents failure in international diplomacy, which is no longer sustainable
  • Former Saudi intelligence chief condemns acts of Hamas and Israel

RIYADH: The Israel-Hamas war is a turning point in the search for a just solution to the Palestinian issue, a former head of Saudi intelligence said on Saturday, backing a call for an international conference to be held to find a lasting solution.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal said the conflict represents a failure in international diplomacy, which is no longer sustainable.

Israel has been conducting a brutal military campaign in the Gaza Strip after Hamas carried out a surprise attack on towns near the enclave, killing around 1,200 Israelis. The response by the Israeli military has killed 11,500 Palestinians.

 

“I condemn Hamas’ barbaric attack on civilians on Oct. 7. But I must also condemn the equally barbaric and more savage attack of Israelis on Palestinian civilians not only in Gaza but in the West Bank,” Prince Turki said.

Israel’s heavy-handed approach to its stated goal of eradicating Hamas has been criticized for causing high levels of civilian deaths and has prompted calls for a ceasefire.

Israeli leaders’ rhetoric has also been criticized, including their use of dehumanizing language against Palestinians and talks of using nuclear weapons against them.

This month, an Israeli minister said that dropping an atomic bomb on Gaza was “one of the options” to deal with the militant group.

“The Israeli nuclear threat is an open invitation to others in the region to pursue this option,” Prince Turki said. “We must ponder this recklessness on the part of Israel and not let it pass without reckoning.”

Prince Turki reminded an audience at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue in the Bahraini capital that the conflict did not begin when Hamas breached Israeli defenses last month but rather has a long history, “most of it in the mode of assaults on Palestinians.”

He also highlighted the hypocrisy and double standards of some nations that claim to be “the guardians of what they call the rules-based international order, democracy, human rights, and international law.”

Prince Turki, once the top Saudi diplomat in the US and UK, said the solution to the conflict requires a collective approach.

“All of us have failed in solving this problem and the responsibility goes (to) all of us to find a solution,” he said, adding that the world is more aware of the plight of the Palestinian people and the atrocities of Israel’s continued occupation.

The former envoy said there was no shortage of ideas and initiatives for peace but “all stopped at Israel’s door due to the unwavering US and European backing, therefore all initiatives went in vain.”

He said the “Israeli, American and European illusion” of bettering Palestinian life under occupation and normalizing ties with Arab states is not an alternative to what real peace requires.

Prince Turki backed Bahrain’s call for an international peace conference, under the effective leadership of the US, which aims to find a credible peace process.

The Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 is still on the table and offers a durable solution to both Palestinians and Israelis, he said. The initiative “makes Israel an integral and normal state within the region and above all brings justice to the Palestinians with their own state.”

Prince Turki said he hopes the fate of Palestinian prisoners will also be considered in any negotiations between the two sides. “What about their fate? Are they also going to be included in this quid pro quo? I hope they will be considered in that.”


Saudi minister holds talks with Chinese, EU officials on climate, global issues 

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi minister holds talks with Chinese, EU officials on climate, global issues 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir received China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation in climate action and environmental conservation, along with other topics of mutual interest.

Both officials also reviewed the Kingdom’s ongoing initiatives and achievements in this field, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a separate meeting, Al-Jubeir received the deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, and his accompanying delegation.

The meeting reviewed international developments and the efforts being made to address them, in addition to discussing topics of mutual interest.


Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj. (@PRAGOVSA)
Updated 25 May 2025
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Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

  • The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims
  • The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9

RIYADH: Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj, the Presidency of Religious Affairs announced on Sunday.

The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims. Muslims around the world who are not performing the pilgrimage mark the day by fasting and engaging in worship.

The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9.

Head of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the appointment.

The appointment underscores the Kingdom’s global religious leadership, reflects its continued support for religious institutions, and exemplifies the leadership’s care for the two holy mosques, the presidency said.


Saudi deputy FM receives EU official in Riyadh

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi deputy FM receives EU official in Riyadh

  • A meeting was also held as part of the third round of political consultations between Saudi Arabia and the EEAS

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received Olof Skoog, deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the European External Action Service, and his accompanying delegation, in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the EU and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

A meeting was also held as part of the third round of political consultations between the Kingdom and the EEAS. Senior officials from both sides participated in the session, chaired by Raed bin Khalid Qarmli, director-general of the general directorate of policy planning at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, with Skoog representing the European side.

 


Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, meets with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Updated 25 May 2025
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Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

  • The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture

RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.

The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”


Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

  • Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed

RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.

The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.

The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.

Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.

The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.

Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.

The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.

Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.