Washington: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir announced a $1 billion pledge to back efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian issue, outlining the Kingdom’s position at the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington.
Addressing the gathering, Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia is embarking “on a journey towards establishing a lasting and just peace in the Middle East”, based on a two-state solution in which “Palestine and Israel live side by side in peace and security”.
He said such an outcome would move the region “from death and destruction to hope and prosperity” by bringing its resources together and opening the door to wider development.
Al-Jubeir traced the Kingdom’s position to earlier initiatives. In 1981, the late King Fahd presented the Eight-Point Plan, later adopted at the Fez Summit, built on the principle of land for peace. In 2002, the late King Abdullah put forward the Arab Peace Initiative, endorsed by Arab and Islamic countries, calling for normalisation with Israel in return for full withdrawal from occupied territories and the creation of a Palestinian state.
He said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continue to pursue “a vision for peace and prosperity and security and integration in our region”.
Al-Jubeir told the meeting that Saudi Arabia is ready to work with the Board of Peace toward what he described as a “noble objective”.
“We look forward to working with the Board of Peace to establish this noble objective”, he said, announcing that the Kingdom will pledge $1 billion over the coming years to help ease the suffering of Palestinians and support a peaceful resolution.