Trump
A member of the Saudi Shura Council has strongly criticized former US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, suggesting instead that Israelis should be transferred to Alaska or Greenland if Middle Eastern security is truly a concern.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of evicting Palestinians from Gaza, claiming that he would launch a large-scale renovation project to transform the embattled enclave into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
His remarks, however, have been met with widespread condemnation from multiple Arab, European, and other international governments, who view the proposal as both unrealistic and a violation of Palestinian rights.
In response to Trump’s comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an equally provocative statement on Thursday, suggesting that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia instead of seeking sovereignty in their own homeland.
“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” Netanyahu remarked, dismissing Palestinian aspirations for independence.
Reacting to these statements, Shura Council member Yousef bin Trad Al-Saadoun mocked Trump’s proposal in an article published in the Saudi newspaper Okaz on Friday. He argued that if Trump truly wished to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, he should consider relocating his “beloved Israelis” to Alaska and, subsequently, to Greenland—suggesting Trump could first annex Greenland, as he had previously expressed interest in purchasing the territory from Denmark during his presidency.
Al-Saadoun also urged Palestinians to remain united in the face of such political maneuvers, warning that “the worst is yet to come.” His remarks underscored the growing frustration in the Arab world over external attempts to dictate the future of the Palestinian people.
The Saudi official further dismissed Netanyahu’s idea of a Palestinian state being established on Saudi soil, warning that such suggestions were meant to pressure Saudi Arabia into accepting unjust political compromises.
“The Zionists and their allies must realise they will not succeed in dragging the Saudi leadership into media traps and false political pressures,” he asserted, making it clear that Saudi Arabia would not be manipulated into abandoning Palestinian sovereignty.
Al-Saadoun also took aim at US foreign policy, accusing Washington of blindly following Israel’s lead without considering the broader consequences for the region.
He criticized the decision-making process in the US government, arguing that poor policies are often driven by individuals who “ignore accumulated knowledge and expertise” while refusing to engage with seasoned diplomats and experts.
Furthermore, he condemned what he described as Washington’s complicity in Israel’s expansionist policies, stating that “the official foreign policy of the United States will seek the illegal occupation of sovereign land and the ethnic cleansing of its population—both of which are Israel’s methods and constitute crimes against humanity.”
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia officially rejected Netanyahu’s remarks about establishing a Palestinian state within Saudi borders, reaffirming its long-standing position in support of Palestinian sovereignty. Riyadh reiterated that the Palestinian people have a fundamental right to their land and will not be displaced by foreign-imposed solutions.
The Saudi Shura Council, whose members are appointed by the king, serves as an advisory body on legislative and policy matters, focusing on economic programs, social policies, and national governance. While it lacks legislative authority, its members hold influential positions in shaping public discourse and government recommendations in the kingdom.
