Saudi Official Mocks Netanyahu’s Proposal, Suggests Relocating Israelis to Alaska
Saudi Official Mocks Netanyahu and Trump: Suggests Relocating Israelis to Alaska
A senior Saudi official has ridiculed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent proposal for a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, suggesting instead that Israelis should be relocated to Alaska or Greenland if the U.S. is truly seeking Middle East peace.
Saudi Official Rejects Netanyahu’s Proposal
Yousef bin Trad Al-Saadoun, a member of Saudi Arabia’s influential Shura Council, criticized Netanyahu’s suggestion that Saudi Arabia could create a Palestinian state within its borders. Netanyahu made the controversial statement during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, saying, “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
Responding to this, Al-Saadoun dismissed the idea as absurd and offensive, highlighting that Saudi Arabia would not allow external pressures to dictate its policies. Writing in the Saudi newspaper Okaz, he sarcastically suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been a strong supporter of Israel, should instead relocate Israelis to Alaska or later to Greenland “after annexing it.”
Saudi Criticism of U.S. Middle East Policy
In his article, Al-Saadoun did not hold back in his criticism of Trump’s Middle East policies, arguing that they were driven by reckless decision-making and a disregard for expert advice. He accused the U.S. of supporting “the illegal occupation of sovereign land and the ethnic cleansing of its inhabitants,” mirroring Israeli policies, which he labeled as “crimes against humanity.”
He further stated that the creation and continued existence of Israel were “planned and executed by the Zionist entity, later handed to their ally to announce from the White House.” His remarks underscored Saudi Arabia’s firm stance against what he described as media manipulation and political coercion aimed at influencing the Kingdom’s leadership.
International Backlash Against Netanyahu’s Remarks
Netanyahu’s remarks about relocating Palestinians to Saudi Arabia have sparked widespread outrage across the Arab world. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the suggestion, calling it “racist and anti-peace.” Officials in Ramallah denounced it as a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and an attempt to erase Palestinian identity.
Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), emphasized that the only legitimate Palestinian state should be established on Palestinian land, in line with international law and UN resolutions.
Egypt also reacted sharply to Netanyahu’s comments. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described them as “irresponsible and unacceptable,” stating that they undermined Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and violated international law and the UN Charter.
Saudi Arabia’s Firm Stance on Palestinian Statehood
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly maintained that it will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is a clear and concrete path toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Kingdom’s leadership has emphasized that any peace agreement must align with the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Netanyahu’s comments come at a sensitive time, as Israel has been seeking to expand diplomatic ties with Arab nations. However, his proposal for relocating Palestinians to Saudi Arabia appears to have further strained relations, reaffirming the deep divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Conclusion
Al-Saadoun’s sarcastic remarks reflect the growing frustration in the Arab world over Israeli policies and the role of the U.S. in the region. By dismissing Netanyahu’s suggestion and mocking Trump’s past involvement, Saudi officials have made it clear that the Kingdom will not entertain proposals that undermine Palestinian rights or its own sovereignty.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community is watching closely to see how Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the U.S. navigate this latest diplomatic controversy.
