The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has realized 95 years of achievements, marked by numerous services to its citizens and the future of the Gulf and the Arab world. Riyadh has always been a loyal supporter of Arab capitals, because its leadership embraced a realistic philosophy based on the principle - “God’s hand is with the united community.” While one hand of Saudi Arabia was focused on internal development, the other was extended in cooperation with the Arab nations. Saudi Arabia has gone even further by not turning its back on countries that once opposed it.
This is not surprising, as the elder brother embraces the younger, and the wise protect others from their ignorance. That is why the Palestinian cause has always been at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s political doctrine. It has always worked on uniting the Arabs, and rejected reckless revolutionary adventures based on empty enthusiasm that does not reflect reality. Saudi Arabia chose a path that has contributed to the growing international recognition of the State of Palestine, while some Arab governments and Palestinian leaders clung to empty slogans. These leaders exemplified how those who lack genuine infl uence often resort to fl imsy pretexts to mask their shortcomings.
That is why, at the 1981 Fez Summit, Saudi Arabia adopted a pragmatic policy based on solid facts that reflected the realities of the situation in Palestine at the time. It was during this summit that then-Crown Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz announced the first Saudi initiative to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. Unfortunately, this initiative was met with a lukewarm response from some Arab countries and factions close to Palestinian decision-making circles. Israel seized on this hesitation as a pretext to reject the proposal, using it as a lifejacket.
In reality, the interests of certain Palestinian and Arab parties appeared to align with those of Israel, creating the impression of a calculated and deliberate distribution of roles. Despite this, Riyadh never ceased its efforts. Saudi Arabia has dedicated over two decades to vigorously supporting the Palestinian cause. It played a pivotal role in the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the current Palestinian Authority that was officially declared in 1993.
With all these developments, Riyadh remained committed to a clear approach based on the centrality of the Palestinian issue. So, when things did not go as planned, the initiative of then-Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz at the Beirut Summit in 2002 laid the foundation for a future of peace in the region. In the years following the announcement of the Beirut Summit initiative, the Palestinian situation worsened due to disputes over the personal interests of some faction leaders.
In response, Saudi Arabia hosted these factions in Makkah, where an agreement was reached. However, Hamas sought to nullify the agreement from the moment it was signed. The recognition of the Palestinian state by 150 countries is, therefore, the result of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s historic efforts in this regard. Furthermore, no one can deny Saudi Arabia’s efforts to end the Lebanese civil war through the Taif Conference, nor its firm stance during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, expressed by the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, who said, “Kuwait must be restored, otherwise Saudi Arabia will face the same fate. If Kuwait’s dignity is lost, Saudi Arabia’s dignity will be completely lost.”
No reasonable person can deny Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in Arab affairs. Saudi Arabia’s vast geography and great people are led by a wise and capable leadership. In just ten years, we witnessed the Kingdom transform into a major regional and global economic power. The landmark projects announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, under the guidance of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, confirm that Saudi Arabia is on the right and steady path. These achievements are a proud National Day gift to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Glory
