Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its stance that it will not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, rejecting a recent claim by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Riyadh had dropped this demand.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry emphasized that the kingdom’s position remains “firm and unwavering” following Trump's remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

During the meeting, when asked if the Saudis still demand the establishment of a Palestinian state, Trump, sitting alongside Netanyahu in the Oval Office, replied: “No, they’re not.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry declared in its statement.

The Ministry highlighted that His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, clearly reaffirmed this stance during his speech at the opening of the first session of the ninth term of the Shura Council on September 18, 2024.

The statement also recalled that the crown prince reiterated the kingdom’s commitment during the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, stressing the need for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises. Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current U.S. administrations," the statement concluded. (ILKHA)