Recognizing Palestinian state is a ‘strategic necessity’ Saudi Arabia tells UN

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Updated 24 May 2025
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Recognizing Palestinian state is a ‘strategic necessity’ Saudi Arabia tells UN

  • The Kingdom and France prepare to co-chair conference next month designed to hasten implementation of two-state solution
  • Foreign ministry’s Manal Radwan tells preparatory meeting recognizing Palestine would mark beginning of peace in the Middle East

LONDON: Recognizing the state of Palestine is a “strategic necessity” that would mark the beginning of peace in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia told a UN meeting on Friday.

The comments came as the Kingdom and France prepare to co-chair a global conference next month designed to hasten the implementation of a two-state solution to end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

The effort has gained further support this week as the devastating toll of Israel’s resumed assault on Gaza sparked international anger.

Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting in preparation for the conference, co-chair Manal Radwan, counsellor at Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry, said that a just solution to the Palestinian question was not only a moral and legal imperative, but “the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.”

“Regional peace begins with recognizing the state of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a strategic necessity,” she said.

“It is the only way to eliminate the space exploited by non-state actors and replace despair with a political horizon, grounded in rights and sovereignty, ensuring security and dignity for all.”

The high-level conference is scheduled to begin on June 17 at the UN headquarters in New York and aims to urgently adopt concrete measures toward the implementation of the two-state solution.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said this week that the conference was meant to rally the world to recognize a Palestinian state.

Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN but is not a full member. 

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel unleashed its military operation in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people.

As the death toll and suffering in Gaza has increased, more nations have moved to recognize Palestine, including Ireland, Norway and Spain last year.

President Emmanuel Macron has said that France would probably recognize Palestine at the June conference and the UK is in discussions about a similar step.

This week, France, Britain and Canada called on Israel to halt its military offensive on Gaza and a remove its restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Israel has recently launched an expanded operation in Gaza, aiming to seize full control of the territory and cut off all aid for several months.

Radwan said that the meeting on Palestine’s future came at a moment of “historic urgency” with Gaza “enduring unimaginable suffering” and civilians continuing to pay the price of a war “that must end immediately.”

“Despair grows deeper by the day, and yet, this is precisely why we must speak not only of ending the war, but of ending a conflict that has lasted for nearly eight decades,” she said.

She said that Saudi Arabia was honored to stand with other nations committed to the diplomatic effort to bring “real, irreversible and transformative change, to ensure, once and for all, the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.”

“The only way to prevent the reoccurrence of violence, terrorism and atrocities is to implement the two-state solution, including through the support of a robust multilateral framework,” she added.

French presidential adviser for the Middle East and North Africa, Anne-Claire Legendre, said that a political solution to the conflict was a matter of urgency.

“The June conference must mark a transformative milestone for the effective implementation of the two-state solution,” she said.

“We must move from the end of the war in Gaza to an end of the conflict. Faced with the facts on the ground, the prospects of a Palestinian state must be maintained.”


Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector

Updated 12 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector

  • Culinary Commission’s latest move is ‘a dream come true’ for chefs

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has launched a freelance license for chefs via the Abde’a Cultural Licenses Platform.

The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, told Arab News: “The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.”

The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications. (Supplied)

Abde’a, an e-platform developed to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, is operated under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture.

The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications — to legally provide freelance culinary services, paving the way for wider freelance opportunities in diverse venues and events across the Kingdom.

The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.

Mayada Badr, Saudi Culinary Arts Commission CEO

The initiative will “support skill development and career growth in the sector, as well as recognition and credibility by reinforcing adherence to professional standards in the culinary field,” according to a statement.

Chef Rawan Al-Harthi, a Jeddah-based pastry chef, said: “This license gives us the freedom to showcase our culinary identity while working independently and legally. It’s a dream come true for chefs who want to grow their brand without being tied to a restaurant.”

Another chef, Faisal Al-Malki, echoed Al-Harthi’s sentiments. “Being recognized as a licensed freelance chef adds value to our profession and pushes us to raise the bar in terms of quality and creativity,” he said.

The launch of this initiative “underscores the commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities for local culinary talent, while fostering a culture of creativity and professionalism,” a press release stated.

 


Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik

Updated 12 July 2025
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Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik

  • They reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests

DUBROVNIK: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi was received by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic at the Dubrovnik Forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Saturday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the “latest developments in free trade agreement negotiations and a proposal to hold a joint Gulf-European conference on energy security,” the General Secretariat said in a report.

They also reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests.

 


Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha

Updated 12 July 2025
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Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha

  • Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people

RIYADH: The Baha branch of the Ministry of Sports, together with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation, organized a hiking program as part of the “Color Your Summer with Sports” campaign.

The event was held in cooperation with the region’s municipality and health cluster as part of the Baha Summer Season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people. The event took place in natural locations that reflect the region’s landscape, he added.

Baha’s mountains, valleys and dams offer suitable areas for various sports, including mountain and water activities, he said. These features support the region’s role in sports tourism in the Kingdom.

Al-Ghamdi added that the program is part of a plan to develop the sports sector in Baha and build partnerships with sports federations.

The initiative aims to support the local economy and attract sports and tourism visitors, from the Kingdom and beyond, Al-Ghamdi said.


Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition

Updated 12 July 2025
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Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition

  • Event highlights smart projects, training initiatives, and global partnerships in the sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Transport General Authority, held an international exhibition in London to showcase its key initiatives and achievements in supporting the maritime transport industry.

The event was attended by senior officials and saw broad participation from International Maritime Organization member states, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar and Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, along with government officials, embassy representatives, and maritime attaches.

The event highlighted the Kingdom’s role as an active partner in the international maritime system and a key contributor to developing global maritime regulations and practices, the SPA added.

It also reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued influence within the International Maritime Organization and its efforts to promote sustainability and improve the efficiency of maritime supply chains.

The exhibition showcased the academies and specialized centers established by the Kingdom, as well as initiatives to localize talent and train seafarers, officers, and marine engineers.

It also featured smart projects that support automation in the sector, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, according to the SPA.

Prince Khalid said that the exhibition reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to international cooperation, highlighting the Kingdom’s hospitality and pursuit of sustainable, collaborative maritime partnerships.

Al-Jasser said that the Kingdom is steadily moving toward leadership in maritime transport, driven by Vision 2030 and investments in talent and technology to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub.

In recent years, the Saudi maritime sector has grown rapidly, with the number of Saudi-flagged vessels reaching 409, totaling more than 100,000 gross tons and more than 16.5 million deadweight tons.

The number of registered Saudi seafarers has risen to 3,000, supported by specialized programs and regulatory initiatives that empower national maritime capabilities, the SPA reported.

These efforts build on Saudi Arabia’s active role in the International Maritime Organization, advancing the maritime transport industry through a vision that goes beyond fleet development or regulatory modernization.

It includes creating an advanced global maritime system based on operational excellence, human capital investment, and cutting-edge technology for a promising, sustainable future.


Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors

Updated 12 July 2025
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Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors

RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail has attracted more than 27,000 visitors from the city, across the Kingdom, and from Gulf and international destinations.

Running from 6 p.m. till 1 a.m. each evening, the 30-day Beit Hail Festival offers a rich blend of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Visitors can enjoy a diverse array of live performances and interactive heritage displays, recreating scenes from the past and presented by skilled male and female artisans.

Exhibits give younger generations a glimpse of how their ancestors transformed natural materials into functional items, showcasing the ingenuity and authenticity of Saudi heritage.

More than 40 activities allow visitors to explore traditional crafts such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and distinctive Najdi and Hail door making.

Other highlights include traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making, the SPA added.

Visitors can also savor a variety of traditional folk foods. At the heart of the festival, an artistic theater hosts performances, including the Hail Samri and Saudi Ardah.

The festival also provides a platform for local craftspeople to showcase their work directly to the public.