Saudi crown prince meets Palestinian vice president in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh in Riyadh on Monday. The meeting took place at Al-Yamama Palace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and senior officials from both sides also attended the meeting. The discussions focused on supporting the Palestinian cause and protecting the interests of the Palestinian people.
Al-Sheikh raised urgent concerns over the West Bank and Jerusalem. He cited Israeli settlement expansion, settler violence and the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, according to Wafa news agency.
The Palestinian official also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He urged the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid, the connection of Gaza and the West Bank under Palestinian sovereignty and a full Israeli withdrawal.
At least 10 countries, including France, Canada and Australia, have pledged to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly later this month.
Those pledges followed a Saudi-French co-chaired conference in July that rallied support for a two-state solution to the war.
Al-Sheikh also discussed the US decision to impose a visa ban on holders of Palestinian Authority passports. The move could block Palestinian officials from attending the UN General Assembly session on September 22.
Both sides emphasised close coordination to end the Israeli occupation. They stressed the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.