Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de facto ruler condemned what he called the “genocide” committed by Israel against Palestinians during a speech at a summit of leaders of Muslim and Arab countries in Riyadh on Monday, Reuters reports.
“The Kingdom renews its condemnation and categorical rejection of the genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people,” Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said at an Arab Islamic summit, echoing comments by Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, late last month.
He urged the international community to stop Israel from attacking Iran and to respect Iran’s sovereignty.
The Crown Prince said in September the Kingdom would not recognise Israel unless a Palestinian State was created.
US President Joe Biden’s administration had sought to broker a normalisation accord between Saudi Arabia and Israel that would have included US security guarantees for the Kingdom, among other bilateral deals between Washington and Riyadh.
Those normalisation efforts were put on ice after the 7 October, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas fighters from Gaza and Israel’s subsequent retaliation.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza in the last 13 months has killed tens of thousands, displaced nearly its entire population, caused a hunger crisis and led to allegations of genocide at the World Court, which Israel denies.
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They called an emergency regional summit today.
Realistically, I think they’re worried about their bottom line and the threat to their oil industry.
I mean, they could have done oil shock 70s v 2.0 from the jump, and profited from it, especially if they would have done it in coordination with other states. Sudden 5 mln cut will make markets go haywire kinda easily, especially in europe (usa is sorta self-sufficient, aside from specific oil types they need)
i wonder what kind of popular pressure is mbs under
Also, domestic discontent.