Saudi FM says blocking of Arab delegation shows “Israeli” rejection of peace process

“Israel's” blocking of a visit by Arab diplomats to the occupied West Bank showed its "rejection of... a diplomatic path to peace", Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Sunday.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Amman with his Jordanian, Egyptian and Bahraini counterparts, Prince Faisal said “Israel’s” move "illustrates and confirms its extremism and its rejection of any serious attempt to engage in a diplomatic path toward peace... it is clear that they only want violence."

The foreign ministers of several Arab countries, who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend, condemned on Saturday “Israel's” decision to block their trip.

The ministers condemned "Israel's decision to ban the delegation's visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas", the Jordanian foreign ministry said.

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain had been expected to take part alongside the secretary-general of the Arab League, according to the statement.

“Israel” had announced late Friday that it would not cooperate, effectively blocking the visit as it controls the territory's borders and airspace.

Abbas "intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state", an “Israeli” official said.

"Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the Land of Israel. Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security."

The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry expressed "grave concern" and called “Israel's” decision a "blatant violation of its obligations under international law as an occupying power".

Had the visit gone ahead, the delegation's head, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, would have become the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the West Bank.

In June, Saudi Arabia and France are to co-chair an international conference at UN headquarters meant to resurrect the two-state solution to the “Israeli”-Palestinian conflict.