Saudi Arabia, France Reaffirm Support for Palestinian State, Demand Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon

Saudi Arabia and France have reaffirmed their support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and called on Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territory. The statement was issued in a joint communiqué at the conclusion of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official visit to France, following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The two leaders also co-chaired the first meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council, emphasizing a shared vision for regional stability based on state sovereignty, international law, and diplomatic solutions.
On the Palestinian issue, Riyadh and Paris firmly rejected efforts to undermine the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders, and called for an end to Israel’s illegal settlement policy and settler violence. Both countries stressed the need to create favorable conditions for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, ensure unhindered humanitarian aid delivery, and reaffirmed their support for Palestinian Authority reforms.
Regarding Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and France agreed to intensify efforts toward a final settlement, calling for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the disarmament of armed groups operating outside state authority, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory.
On Iran, both sides emphasized the need for a negotiated resolution to Tehran’s nuclear program and called on Iran to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On Syria, the two leaders expressed their commitment to the country’s stability and economic recovery, and welcomed the establishment of a joint Saudi-Syrian-French business council.