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Saudi German Health Joins Emirati Genome Programme

The Emirati Genome Programme is a significant initiative under the National Genome Strategy. It is one of the largest population genome projects in the world and has recently achieved a significant milestone of collecting 500,000 samples…reports Asian Lite News

The Emirati Genome Programme, a groundbreaking national initiative aimed at developing a comprehensive genetic map for UAE citizens, has announced its collaboration with Saudi German Health to expand sample collection sites in Dubai. UAE citizens are encouraged to visit the Saudi German Hospital in Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah to participate in the programme that aims to accelerate the development of advanced preventive and personalised healthcare solutions for the nation’s present and future generations.

The Emirati Genome Programme is a significant initiative under the National Genome Strategy. It is one of the largest population genome projects in the world and has recently achieved a significant milestone of collecting 500,000 samples. The programme aims to collect high-quality genetic data using advanced genetic sequencing technologies and artificial intelligence. M42, an Abu Dhabi-based tech-enabled health powerhouse, is facilitating the programme through its Omics Centre of Excellence, the largest and most technologically advanced omics facility in the region, to not only enhance the available medical database, but also enable extensive scientific research and discoveries, contributing to healthcare innovation in the UAE and beyond.

Makarem Sobhi Batterjee, President of Saudi German Health, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, stating, “The Emirati Genome Programme is a pioneering national initiative, and as a leading hospital in the UAE, we are committed to making a positive impact on people’s health. Our full cooperation with the project management will ensure driving public awareness and collection of samples across the Emirates.”

The programme’s goal is to analyse the complete genome of UAE citizens, allowing researchers and medical professionals to identify the causes of genetic diseases and types of genetic mutations, and anticipate susceptibility to certain diseases for more effective treatment and preventive plans.

Dr. Ahmad Al Awadhi, Senior Community Outreach Director, Emirati Genome Programme, M42, said, “As we progress towards realising the programme’s aim to collect 1 million samples and to expand the programme across the UAE, we are proud to collaborate with Saudi German Hospitals to improve the programme’s awareness, outreach, and participation at easily accessible locations.”

The programme focuses on precision medicine initiatives to further enhance public health in the UAE and reinforce the country’s position at the forefront of global genomic research and innovation.

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Saudi Warns of ‘Consequences’ if Israel Attacks Rafah

Prince Faisal criticised the perceived double standards of some nations towards the crisis in Gaza and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire….reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabi’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan issued a stark warning at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, cautioning against the “catastrophic consequences” of any Israeli attack on Rafah, south of Gaza. He emphasised Rafah as a crucial refuge for civilians displaced by the Israeli army.

Prince Faisal criticised the perceived double standards of some nations towards the crisis in Gaza and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire. He urged the international community to fulfill its responsibility in halting the conflict, protecting innocent civilians, and facilitating a credible peace process.

Highlighting the staggering toll of nearly 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the conflict began, Prince Faisal underscored the absurdity of pursuing institutional dialogue while ignoring the dire situation in Palestine. He questioned the legitimacy of discussions on rights amid Gaza’s devastation and the suffering of its people.

Expressing dismay over the Security Council’s failure to produce tangible outcomes despite the ongoing crisis, Prince Faisal called for immediate action to address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. He emphasised the urgent need for security, access to basic services, and humanitarian aid for Gaza’s population.

“He reiterated the Kingdom’s demand to implement Security Council Resolution No. (2720) and activate the humanitarian mechanism accordingly, and lift restrictions on the entry of relief trucks and humanitarian aid, to alleviate unjustified human suffering. He renewed the Kingdom’s call for an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for a serious, just, and comprehensive peace process,” Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Kingdom’s delegation included the Head of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila.

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Saudi Arabia Targets 7.5M Indian Tourists by 2030

Witnessing increasing demand for travel from India to Saudi Arabia for spiritual and leisure purposes, Riyadh aims to attract 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030, as articulated by Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – Asia Pacific, Saudi Tourism Authority, during the prominent SATTE 2024 travel show.

Expressing enthusiasm about Saudi’s third participation in SATTE, Aldabbagh marked the occasion of Saudi’s founding day, commemorating three centuries since its establishment. Emphasising India as a pivotal market, he highlighted a substantial 50 per cent growth in Indian visitors to Saudi Arabia last year, outlining plans to achieve the 2030 vision.

In a conversation with ANI, Aldabbagh said, “We’re thrilled to be at SATTE. It’s our third participation, and it’s one of the most distinguished trade shows in South Asia. Today holds significance as we celebrate the Saudi founding day.”

When queried about the Indian market’s role in Saudi Arabia, Aldabbagh asserted, “India is a priority market for Saudi. Last year alone, we welcomed 1.5 million visitors from India, presenting a remarkable 50 per cent growth. Looking ahead, our objective is to attract 7.5 million visitors from India to Saudi Arabia as part of our vision for 2030.”

Addressing visa facilitation, Aldabbagh mentioned, “Recognising India’s importance, we have streamlined access to Saudi. With 10 VFS offices in India, we plan to expand further this year. We’ve introduced a stopover program, offering a 96-hour free visa for those travelling through Saudi Airlines or flynas (a private Saudi low-cost airline). Additionally, individuals holding a US, UK, or Schengen visa are eligible for e-Visa or visa on arrival.”

Regarding the enduring relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, Aldabbagh said, “The mutual goodwill between India and Saudi Arabia has consistently expanded. This growth spans not only in the tourism sector but also in economic, social, and cultural exchanges. We eagerly anticipate our planned activations in India this year, further solidifying our flourishing relationship.”

India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties.

SATTE (South Asia’s Travel and Tourism Exchange) offers a comprehensive platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs).

SATTE is well-supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, National and International Tourism Boards, Indian and International travel and trade associations and organisations amongst others, according to SATTE’s official website. (ANI)

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Cisco Reveals Saudi Arabia’s AI Readiness Ahead of LEAP 2024

LEAP 2024 will be held from 4-7 March at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham in Saudi Arabia. Cisco stand will be located at booth J10, Hall 1 – Big Tech…reports Asian Lite News

Ahead of LEAP 2024 technology conference in Riyadh, Cisco announced the findings of its AI Readiness Index in Saudi Arabia. The Index, which surveyed over 8,000 companies across 30 countries, was developed in response to the accelerated adoption of AI. The survey shows that 93% of organizations in KSA have an AI strategy in place or under development, while only 8% consider themselves fully prepared to deploy and leverage AI.

Improving the efficiency of and increasing productivity was ranked among the top outcomes that companies are looking to drive through adoption of AI, with 47% of respondents in KSA placing it on top of gains they expect from AI. Opening new revenue streams was the lowest on the list of expectations, as ranked by 30% of respondents.

On talent development, 31% of KSA respondents ranked comprehension and proficiency of AI tools and technologies as the primary skill gap. The good news is that organizations are taking steps to address this gap. Among the organizations surveyed in Kingdom, 82% say they are investing in training employees in this area.

On infrastructure readiness, the survey shows that a mere 12% of local organizations in KSA have networks that are fully flexible to handle the complexity of AI workloads. Cybersecurity also needs increased focus, as 70% of respondents fall short of being “fully equipped” to detect and prevent adversarial attacks on AI models.​

Commenting on the results of the study, Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco Saudi Arabia said: “Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in recent years to establish itself as a leading player in the field of AI. The Kingdom recognizes the transformative potential of AI and has placed it at the center of its Vision 2030”. He added: “At Cisco, we believe in the critical role of AI to revolutionize industries and drive innovation, and it has been an important element across our portfolio for over a decade. As the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is working to implement the National Strategy for Data and AI, the insights from the index can help inform the prioritization across important pillars including strategy, infrastructure, data, governance, talent, and culture.”

This year, Cisco’s participation at LEAP is revolving around the theme of “AI Unleashed: Shaping Sustainable Digital Evolution”. Visitors will be able to engage with subject matter experts at Cisco’s booth and discover demos to harness the power of AI to enable a sustainable, securely connected future. The company will showcase its latest technology innovations, spanning networking, security, collaboration, and applications, besides industry use-cases alongside its channels and ecosystem partners.

Reem Asaad, Vice President for Cisco Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, Romania, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), commented: “Cisco has a long-standing presence in the region, working to advance national digital economies, develop infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and build the region’s talent pool. This year at LEAP, we are excited to demonstrate the power of our portfolio to support our customers and partners in Saudi Arabia and beyond in leveraging our latest technologies to increase efficiencies and drive innovation.”

LEAP 2024 will be held from 4-7 March at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham in Saudi Arabia. Cisco stand will be located at booth J10, Hall 1 – Big Tech.

Cisco AI Readiness Index 

The new Cisco AI Readiness Index is based on a double-blind survey of 8,161 private sector business and IT leaders across 30 markets, conducted by an independent third-party surveying respondents from companies with 500 or more employees. The Index assessed respondents’ AI readiness across six key pillars: strategy, infrastructure, data, talent, governance, and culture.

Companies were examined on 49 different metrics across these six pillars to determine a readiness score for each, as well as an overall readiness score for the respondents’ organization. Each indicator was assigned an individual weightage based on its relative importance to achieving readiness for the applicable pillar. Based on their overall score, Cisco has identified four groups at different levels of organizational readiness – Pacesetters (fully prepared), Chasers (moderately prepared), Followers (limited preparedness), and Laggards (unprepared). 

ALSO READ-Cisco Plans Layoffs

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Israel’s Actions ‘Indefensible’: Saudi at ICJ

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Ziad Al-Atiyah, strongly condemned Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories as legally indefensible….reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s actions in Palestinian Territories as ‘legally indefensible,’ echoing a sentiment shared by South Africa, which urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue a non-binding legal opinion on the matter.

Representatives from both nations addressed the ICJ, seeking legal recourse against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Alongside them, Algeria, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Belgium presented preliminary arguments in what is considered the largest case at the ICJ, the Arab News reported.

The focus of the hearings centred on a request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion on the legality of the occupation. Palestinian representatives, who articulated their stance on Monday, emphasised the illegality of Israel’s occupation and called for its immediate cessation.

Israel, however, abstained from the hearings, expressing concerns that an advisory opinion could impede conflict resolution efforts. Despite Israel’s absence, the testimonies outlined the ongoing violations of international law, including Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements and its deprivation of Palestinian rights.

Ziad Al-Atiyah, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, emphasized the gravity of Israel’s actions, condemning its treatment of civilians in Gaza and its disregard for international law. Al-Atiyah accused Israel of dehumanising Palestinians and called for accountability from the international community.

Saudi Arabia criticised Israel’s violations of UN resolutions and its obstruction of Palestinian self-determination. The Kingdom urged the ICJ to assert its jurisdiction and issue a legal opinion, emphasising the urgency of addressing Israel’s ongoing aggression and disregard for international obligations.

Meanwhile, Palestine has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks about Israel’s security control over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, considering it a challenge to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson of the Palestinian presidency, said on Tuesday in a press statement that these Israeli policies “do not bring security and stability to anyone here or in the region,” warning against the continuation of this “destructive approach that will lead matters to a complete explosion”.

“Palestine rejects this Israeli policy that challenges the world,” he added.

Abu Rudeineh called on the US government to “force” Israel to stop the conflict first “because the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people is a red line”.

Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel will maintain its security control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added in a video statement, “In recent days, we have witnessed pressure on us unilaterally to impose the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger the existence of the State of Israel.”

“The recognising a Palestinian state at this stage would be a “reward for terrorism” and would undermine the chances of a lasting peace deal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian officials on the Gaza truce.

Hamas said on Tuesday in a brief statement sent to Xinhua news agency that Haniyeh arrived in Cairo at the head of a delegation from the movement’s leadership.

It added that the talks will focus on the political and on-the-ground situation in light of the aggressive conflict in Gaza and the efforts made to stop the aggression, provide relief to citizens, and achieve the goals of the Palestinian people, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Hamas leader on Saturday accused Israel of impeding efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying that they “showed full flexibility in dealing with these issues, but it is clear so far that Israel continues to procrastinate in the negotiations”.

Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, after the group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Israel has so far killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has shown no sign of abating in recent years, as direct peace talks between the two sides stalled in 2014 following disputes over Israeli settlements and the recognition of a Palestinian state.

ALSO READ: 14-Truck UAE Aid Convoy Enters Gaza Strip

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Iran, Saudi Vow Expansion of Ties, Slam Israel

The Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed his Iranian counterpart’s proposal to hold an emergency meeting of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers to stop Israel’s “genocide”

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held a phone conversation, during which they vowed to expand bilateral cooperation and jointly slammed Israel over the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian Foreign Minister criticized the Israeli “crimes” against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as Israel’s “threats” and actions against Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, which shelters more than 1.3 million displaced Palestinians, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We do not consider war as a solution, but if the issue is not immediately resolved politically, the negative consequences of Israel’s continued genocide on the security and stability of the region will be inevitable,” Amir-Abdollahian said, stressing the necessity for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an emergency meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza.

The Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed his Iranian counterpart’s proposal to hold an emergency meeting of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers to stop Israel’s “genocide,” slamming Israel for ignoring international calls to end the crisis in Gaza.

The two ministers also underlined the necessity to expand bilateral cooperation in different economic and trade areas and, particularly, between the two countries’ private sectors within the framework of international law, as well as the importance of continuing bilateral contacts and consultations.

Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7, after the group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. So far 28,775 Palestinians have been killed by the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Friday.

Since Monday, Israel has launched airstrikes against Rafah and indicated that it is set to launch a ground operation in the city.

ALSO READ: Egyptian Wall Construction Near Gaza Border Raises Tensions

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Saudi Embassy celebrates International Day of Arabian Leopard

There are less than 200 Arabian leopards left in the wild in the world, which puts this species at a higher risk of extinction, and baby leopards are very rare, Browne said…reports Asian Lite News

The Saudi Embassy in the UK on Saturday invited families and visitors to celebrate the first International Day of the Arabian Leopard at London Zoo and take part in the third annual Catwalk.

The full-day event was hosted by the Royal Commission for AlUla and Catmosphere, a foundation that encourages people to take action to protect the environment and habitats of big cats.

“The Royal Commission for AlUla has responsibility across the Kingdom to bring back the Arabian leopard, and part of that work is to raise awareness of the plight of the Arabian leopard,” Stephen Browne, vice president of wildlife and natural heritage at RCU said.

The day has been marked by Saudi Arabia for the last three years, but this year saw it celebrated globally after Catmosphere and the Arabian Leopard Fund collaborated with the Saudi Mission to the UN in New York to gain international recognition for the day on Feb. 10 each year.

“The result of that designation is now we have the first international day recognizing a big cat species, and the importance of that is that we can bring together people across the world to unite behind the species to then improve its conservation, but also to raise awareness about conservation globally,” Browne said.

He added that RCU wanted to make the initiative global and chose various places worldwide, including in London at the world’s oldest scientific zoo, to try to engage as much as possible with international experts and organizations.

“The Zoological Society of London is one of the world’s best and oldest conservation organizations, having been in existence for 200 years, and we hope in due course to partner with them and hopefully they’ll be able to support us in our work in AlUla,” Browne said.

“Anywhere in the world that has endangered cats, which is pretty much everywhere, we’d like them to take part in this to raise awareness (of) big cats and their conservation, also through our endeavors to get people to get out and about to improve their own well-being by doing exercise, by being out, meeting people, discussing topics, enjoying green spaces. So it’s more than just the conservation of big cats.”

There are less than 200 Arabian leopards left in the wild in the world, which puts this species at a higher risk of extinction, and baby leopards are very rare, Browne said.

“It’s very hard for members of the public to actually contribute directly through anything, so events like this allow people to engage in conservation by helping to raise awareness, by drawing sort of media attention,” he added.

“But in terms of beyond the Arabian leopard, if you look at the Catwalk, which is for seven species, it’s possible that people could actually engage on the ground by doing the various initiatives in their respective countries.”

Leopards in Saudi Arabia have a long cultural association, particularly in AlUla, which has rock carvings going back 7,000 years.

“It’s a species that people have related to for a long time, and we’re trying to use it as an emblem around which people can build national pride in that species, maybe national pride in conservation,” Browne said.

ALSO READ-Saudi Embassy in Iran reopens after 7 years

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India, Saudi Arabia conduct first joint military exercise

The 12-day joint exercise started on January 29, aiming to achieve interoperability between the two forces …reports Asian Lite News

The Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land forces completed their first joint military exercise, ‘Sada Tanseeq’, in which soldiers from both countries participated under the UN mandate, an official statement said on Thursday.

The 12-day joint exercise started on January 29, aiming to achieve interoperability between the two forces and acquaint each other with operational procedures and combat drills under the UN mandate. The exercise was performed on semi-deserted terrain.

According to the statement, the name ‘Sada Tanseeq’ was given by both nations jointly, with ‘Sada’ given by the Indian Army, meaning forever, and ‘Tanseeq’ an Arabian word for coordination, given by the Saudi contingent.

The exercise aimed at better coordination between the armed forces of both countries in maintaining global peace.

Every exercise was performed in the ‘buddy phase’, which means 50 per cent Indian and 50 per cent Saudi personnel, the release informed, adding that the Indian contingent from the 20th battalion of the Brigade of Guards regiment and the Saudi Arabian contingent, comprising 45 soldiers of the RSLF, took part in the joint military drills.

“The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase focused on combat conditioning and tactical training. The second phase culminated in physical exercises and validation. Both the contingents jointly took part in the validation phase, which included the creation of a temporary operating base, establishing an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) grid, establishing Mobile Vehicle Check Post, carrying out Cordon and Search Operations in a hostile village, Heliborne Operations and conduct of House Intervention Drills,” the release added.

“The validation phase also witnessed platoon battle drills in which everything was performed as it happens in a battle field. ALS WSI provided the real-time location and information of the target to which the others followed. With the firing of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) and various weapons,” read the statement further.

The target was engaged aerially with the help of cannons, rockets and missiles. The weapons used by the Indian Army are six AU rifles and snipers, and the weapons used by Saudi includes AK 47, pistol 9 mm, snipers etc, it added.

The exercise was conducted at the Mahajan Field firing range, where both contingents performed all the exercises in the ‘buddy phase’.

Along with the exercise, a showcasing of weapons and artillery was also conducted, where an indigenous product, a four-wheeler multi-role carrier known as the Rhino, grabbed a lot of attention.

Rhino, a four-wheeler multi-role carrier, has been designed and manufactured by an Indian startup for use during combat.

According to the official statement, it is a light-weight, compact machine that can carry upto 600 kgs at a time and is remote controlled. The purpose of this product is to help in reducing the weight carrying and excursion of the soldiers in the battleground.

The indigenous product clearly demonstrates that India is becoming ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant), the release added.

Many other weapons and artillery were showcased during the joint drills. These included a range of guns, rifles, drones, tanks, trucks, and many more.

Speaking about the Rhino, Sehjit Singh from D town robotics was quoted as saying in the release, “We make agricultural drones and robots for Army. This is a robot in ugv category and it is called Rhino. It can carry up to 600 kgs. This can be used to lift weights during Wars either on mountains or in the deserts. It’s endurance is up to 6 hours. If any soldier gets injured during the war this can even be used to place a stretcher on it and then help to lift the soldier.”

“It can even be used to send to a sensitive areas and with its help, explosives can also be deployed. With this help, the physical activity for the soldiers can be reduced as they can carry heavy weights. It can work on every kind of terrain, and it even has bullet-proof tyres and a body. It can climb at an inclination of 30 degrees. This is the latest version number 2 that has been launched in the year 2024 and for the first time it was launched in the year 2023. It is under trials in the army and has also been recommended,” he added. (ANI)

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Saudi’s Gaza Gambit: No Recognition, No Ties

The Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s unwavering support for the Palestinian issue and the necessity that Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights….reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia said it has told the US administration that the kingdom won’t have diplomatic relations with Israel unless the latter stops its “aggressions” in the Gaza Strip and an independent Palestinian state is established.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday refuting the White House’s saying that both Israel and Saudi Arabia gave “positive feedback” on normalising relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s unwavering support for the Palestinian issue and the necessity that Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights.

There will be no diplomatic ties with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from Gaza, it noted.

In an online press briefing on Tuesday, a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, US National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said the US government had been engaging in discussions with Israel and Saudi Arabia on “normalisation arrangement,” before and after the current Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, 2023.

Kirby added, “Those discussions are ongoing as well,” confirming “positive feedback from both sides that they’re willing to continue to have those discussions”.

ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia Refutes US Claim of Positive Feedback on Israel Relations

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Saudi Arabia Refutes US Claim of Positive Feedback on Israel Relations

The Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s unwavering support for the Palestinian issue and the necessity that Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights…reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia said it has told the US administration that the kingdom won’t have diplomatic relations with Israel unless the latter stops its “aggressions” in the Gaza Strip and an independent Palestinian state is established.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday refuting the White House’s saying that both Israel and Saudi Arabia gave “positive feedback” on normalising relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s unwavering support for the Palestinian issue and the necessity that Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights.

There will be no diplomatic ties with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from Gaza, it noted.

In an online press briefing on Tuesday, a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, US National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said the US government had been engaging in discussions with Israel and Saudi Arabia on “normalisation arrangement,” before and after the current Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, 2023.

Kirby added, “Those discussions are ongoing as well,” confirming “positive feedback from both sides that they’re willing to continue to have those discussions”.

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