Saudi Arabia welcomes moves by Australia, New Zealand toward recognizing Palestinian state

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed on Monday the recent announcements by Australia and New Zealand signaling steps toward recognizing the State of Palestine.

The Kingdom commended Australia’s declaration of its intention to formally recognize Palestine, as well as New Zealand’s announcement that it is considering such recognition, a statement from the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia praised these developments as part of a growing international consensus in support of the two-state solution.

The Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“The Kingdom appreciates the positions of countries that contribute to strengthening the path toward a just and comprehensive peace,” the statement said, adding that recognition of Palestine is a crucial step toward ending the decades-long conflict.