Sun Jun 01 14:12:31 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A planned visit by Arab foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to the West Bank to discuss Palestinian statehood was blocked by Israel. Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s action as “extremism and rejection of peace.” The ministers had intended to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel justified the block by stating the Palestinian Authority refuses to condemn the October 7th attack and that the meeting was “provocative.” The incident highlights the continued tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to achieve a two-state solution. An upcoming international conference in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, will further address Palestinian statehood.

**News Article:**

**Saudi Arabia Accuses Israel of ‘Extremism’ After Blocking Arab Ministers’ West Bank Visit**

**Amman, Jordan** – Tensions escalated in the Middle East after Israel blocked a planned visit by foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE to the occupied West Bank. The ministers intended to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss Palestinian statehood and find ways to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud condemned Israel’s actions as “extremism and rejection of peace” during a press conference in Amman on Sunday. He stated that Israel’s refusal “embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for [a] peaceful pathway.”

Israeli officials defended their decision, citing the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to condemn the October 7th attacks and characterizing the planned meeting as “provocative.” They also declared they would “not cooperate” with the visit.

The blocked visit, which would have been a rare high-level trip to the West Bank by a Saudi official, further underscores the challenges in achieving a lasting peace in the region. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi echoed Saudi Arabia’s sentiment, claiming Israel was “killing any chance of a just and comprehensive” Arab-Israeli settlement.

The incident comes ahead of an international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, set to take place in New York from June 17-20. The conference will focus on the issue of Palestinian statehood and address security arrangements post-ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would also cover reconstruction plans.

The international community, including the United Nations and various European countries, is increasingly advocating for a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel.

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