Sun Nov 17 04:10:00 IST 2024: ## Arab Summit Demands End to Israeli Aggression, Reviving Palestinian Statehood

**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – November 17, 2024** – A summit of Arab and Islamic leaders, hosted by Saudi Arabia last week, issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities. The leaders denounced Israel’s actions as “shocking and horrific crimes,” including “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing,” and called for an independent international investigation.

The summit’s closing statement reiterated the long-standing Arab demand for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the two-state solution and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This marks a significant shift, as recent years saw several Arab nations normalize ties with Israel without addressing the Palestinian question, notably through the 2020 Abraham Accords.

While the October 7th Hamas attack initially prompted Arab condemnation of Israeli actions, it stopped short of direct confrontation. However, the scale of the Israeli response and the destruction in Gaza fueled a resurgence of anti-Israel sentiment. The Riyadh summit showcased this collective anger, sending a clear message to both Israel and the United States that resolving the Palestinian issue is paramount to regional peace.

The summit’s stance directly contradicts recent efforts towards Saudi-Israeli normalization. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) had previously suggested that a normalization agreement was imminent. However, MBS’s strong condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as “genocide,” indicates a significant deterioration in relations. The Saudi government has explicitly stated that any future normalization with Israel is contingent upon the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

This development signals a potential realignment of regional power dynamics. The prior focus on counter-Iranian alliances between Gulf states and Israel has been overshadowed by the renewed emphasis on the Palestinian issue. The summit’s outcome suggests a pause, if not a reversal, in the Arab-Israeli normalization process that had been gaining momentum before the October attacks. Even the UAE, a key player in the Abraham Accords, has indicated that it will not support a post-conflict scenario without a Palestinian state. The renewed focus on Palestine has also led to a temporary detente between Arab nations and Iran, suspending long-standing regional rivalries.

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