Saudi Arabia says its call for independent Palestinian state is unwavering
Dubai, Feb 6 (AP): The reaction came swiftly in the Mideast from President Donald Trump's suggestion of the US taking over the Gaza Strip. In Saudi Arabia, its Foreign Ministry issued a sharply worded statement early Wednesday that their long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.”
The statement noted Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler, has said that “Saudi Arabia will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, and that the kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.”
Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the US over a deal to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for a security pact and other terms.
“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement added. “The duty of the international community today is to work to alleviate the severe human suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it.”
It added: “This firm position is not subject to negotiation or outbidding.”
The kingdom has supported the Palestinians having an independent state comprised of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with east Jerusalem as their capital. It's a stance the wider Mideast holds on the conflict.
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Sunetra Pawar to take oath as Maharashtra's Deputy CM at 5 pm on Saturday
Mumbai (PTI): NCP's Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar will be sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, replacing her deceased husband and party chief Ajit Pawar, at the Lok Bhavan here at 5 pm on Saturday.
Lok Bhavan (formerly Raj Bhavan) gave this information.
Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is currently in Mussoorie, will arrive in Mumbai at 4 pm, it said.
NCP's legislature party meeting is scheduled to take place in the city at 2 pm, where Sunetra Pawar is set to be named as its leader. After that she will take oath as the first woman deputy CM of the state.
She held talks with party leaders after arriving here from Baramati early morning on Saturday.
Ajit Pawar, who was deputy chief minister and finance minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government, was killed in a plane crash in Baramati along with four others on January 28.
