WASHINGTON – Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubayr reaffirmed the kingdom’s longstanding commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and announced a $1 billion commitment to support efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Speaking at the Peace Council’s first meeting in Washington, al-Jubayr said Saudi Arabia was embarking on a “journey towards establishing a lasting and just peace in the Middle East” and emphasized a two-state solution in which “Palestinians and Israelis coexist in peace and security.”
He said such peace would transform the region “from death and destruction to hope and prosperity” by consolidating its resources and unleashing its potential.
Al-Jubair stressed that Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of peace goes back decades. In 1981, the late King Fahd presented an eight-point plan to strengthen the Land for Peace principle, which was adopted by Arab leaders at the Fez Summit.
In 2002, the late King Abdullah launched the Arab Peace Initiative, which was unanimously supported by both Arab and Muslim countries.
The initiative called for normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for complete withdrawal from the occupied territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Al-Jubail said King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continue to work toward “a vision of peace, prosperity, security and integration in our region.”
He expressed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to work with the peace committee to advance what he called “noble goals.”
Al-Jubayr concluded his speech by announcing that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pledging $1 billion over the next few years to support efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and promote a peaceful settlement.
“We look forward to working with the Peace Committee to establish this noble goal,” he said.
