Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has condemned Israel’s decision to block a planned visit by Arab foreign ministers to Ramallah, calling it a sign of “extremism and rejection of peace.”
During a joint press conference in Amman with his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain, Prince Faisal said the Israeli government’s refusal to allow the delegation to enter the occupied West Bank reflected its unwillingness to engage constructively with regional peace efforts.
The Arab delegation—comprising ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt—was scheduled to visit Ramallah on Sunday and meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
However, Israeli officials stated on Saturday that the visit would not be permitted, citing concerns that the Palestinian Authority was using the visit to promote the establishment of a Palestinian state.
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Israeli media reported that authorities had denied entry permits due to political motives, while a government official acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority aimed to use the gathering to gain broader recognition for statehood.
The Saudi foreign minister’s comments came shortly after an Israeli minister publicly expressed intentions to formally annex parts of the West Bank into a “Jewish state,” further escalating tensions.
