Saudi Arabia names non-resident ambassador for Palestinian Territories

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

In a move termed "an important step", Saudi Arabia yesterday named a non-resident ambassador for the Palestinian Territories who will also serve as consul general in Jerusalem.

The role will be filled by Nayef al-Sudairi, the current ambassador to Jordan, according to a social media post from the embassy in Amman confirmed by a Saudi foreign ministry official.

The move also reflects the desire of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "to strengthen relations with the brothers of the State of Palestine and give it a formal boost in all areas", a video broadcast by the Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel said.

The file for the Palestinian Territories has traditionally been handled by Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Amman.

Riyadh has repeatedly said it would stick to the decades-old Arab League position of not establishing official ties with Israel until the conflict with the Palestinians is resolved.

After a meeting on Saturday at the Palestinian embassy in Amman where Sudairi presented a copy of his credentials, Majdi al-Khaldi, the Palestinian presidential adviser for diplomatic affairs, said he "welcomed" the appointment, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

It "will contribute to strengthening the strong and solid brotherly relations that bind the two countries and the two brotherly peoples," Khaldi said.

A Palestinian Authority official said that with this announcement "Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its recognition of the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital".

"This is one part of several steps, and we will continue to develop the relationship with them," he told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.