By Dr. Nasser Ismail Jarboa & Anafe’ Suleiman Al‑Atiywi
(So We Do Not Forget — From the Shared Saudi–Palestinian Memory)
In previous installments, we highlighted the depth of the ancient Arab‑Islamic ties that bind the two noble Arab peoples throughout our proud Islamic history—ties rooted in lineage, history, heritage, and culture, and blessed by a unique Qur’anic connection. We presented to younger generations the major turning points and the heroic role of Saudi fighters and martyrs in the 1948 war, as well as the immortal positions of the late Founder King Abdulaziz in supporting the cause of all Arabs: Palestine—a cause that has never left the conscience of free Saudis, leadership and people alike. We also reviewed the many historic Saudi–Palestinian moments during the era of the “Falcon of the Arabs,” King Faisal, and recalled the seas of Saudi valor in the Battle of Maysalun.
Today, so that future generations may preserve in their noble memory every figure who stood tall in defense of their nation and the Arab and Islamic peoples, we turn to a leader whose legacy must never fade from the hearts and minds of the free people of the world: the late King Saud bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him. God granted him a sharp mind and remarkable intuition from childhood. He was, in truth, the one who consolidated the pillars of the Saudi state, which went on to leave its mark regionally and globally—despite the hardships and sacrifices he endured to deliver his noble mission.
King Saud embodied the qualities of leadership that sociologists and political scientists agree upon: status, influence, decisiveness, and the ability to engage with unfolding events.
These traits were evident early on, beginning with his first diplomatic mission to Qatar in 1915 after the Battle of Kanzan. That mission shaped him into the Arab statesman who combined political acumen with military experience—qualities that became clear in the battles of Yatib and Turbah, which solidified the rule of the House of Saud in the Arabian Peninsula. From there, he went on to lead Arab armies in Najran and Asir, ushering in a period of regional stability resistant to malicious conspiracies.
King Saud proved himself in every arena. He was chosen as Crown Prince on 11 May 1933, and later became Prime Minister and Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces in 1953—at a time when the Middle East was witnessing intense regional and international upheavals, foremost among them the emergence of the Palestinian cause, the refugee crisis, and the rise of Arab liberation movements against colonialism.
On 7 March 1954, the Arab world and the international community welcomed a new statesman as Saud bin Abdulaziz ascended the throne of Saudi Arabia. His reign marked a new phase of Arab resurgence. The Kingdom witnessed political development and internal transformation in agriculture, trade, urban growth, social welfare, education, health, and scientific research. Externally, King Saud charted an independent Arab‑centered foreign policy that rejected guardianship and dependency, built on mutual respect, and dedicated to serving the causes of the Arab nation.
Anyone who studies King Saud’s honorable record regarding Palestine must pause at several defining moments. One such moment was his participation in the Anshas Conference in Egypt on 28 May 1946, where he represented Saudi Arabia on behalf of King Abdulaziz. The conference was attended by President Shukri al‑Quwatli, King Abdullah of Jordan, Prince Abd al‑Ilah of Iraq, Lebanese President Bechara El‑Khoury, and Prince Sayf al‑Islam bin Yahya of Yemen. The conference declared that the Palestinian cause was not solely the cause of Palestinians but the cause of all Arabs, and condemned Britain’s position. This deepened King Saud’s attachment to the issue.
He then resolved to visit Palestine with a delegation that included Fuad Hamza, Medhat Sheikh al‑Ard, Khairuddin al‑Zarkali, and Saleh al‑Ali. The visit reflected King Abdulaziz’s desire to support the Palestinians in their plight, assess their conditions, and provide assistance. King Saud received a grand welcome. He prayed at Al‑Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. When he visited the village of Anabta in Tulkarm, the martyr Abdulrahim Hammoud recited a poem before him. Upon reaching the verse:
“Al‑Aqsa Mosque—have you come to visit it,
or have you come too early to bid it farewell?”
Prince Saud stood with tears welling in his eyes and addressed the crowd in a firm, resonant voice:
“By God, we shall not bid farewell to Palestine as long as a single Arab vein beats within us.”
With this visit, he became the first Saudi prince to enter Jerusalem, marking the beginning of a lifelong devotion to the first Qiblah and its people.
King Saud engaged in numerous diplomatic confrontations with world leaders—especially American presidents—over Palestine. In one meeting, President Truman promised King Saud that the United States would remain neutral and would not side with the Jews against the Palestinians. King Saud reminded Truman of President Roosevelt’s commitments regarding Palestine and reiterated the foundations of Arab rights:
- No right to foreign settlement
- The natural human right to life
- The sanctity of Jerusalem and its importance to the Islamic world
- That Arabs are the indigenous inhabitants of Palestine
King Saud did not rely solely on Western promises. In May 1954, he called for an Islamic Conference to discuss the situation and provide military support to Arab forces in Palestine. The conference was planned to be held in Jerusalem. Its goals included addressing the entire Palestinian issue, unifying the Muslim voice, and coordinating financial and military assistance. Leaders of many Arab and Islamic countries met that year and agreed to establish a General Secretariat and a Supreme Council headed by King Saud.
King Saud also sought to build Arab‑Islamic solidarity against the Zionist‑Western threat. In a meeting with the Jewish‑American writer Alfred Lilienthal, author of The Zionist Connection, who exposed Zionist‑American schemes with Truman to settle Jews in Palestine, King Saud stated:
“In the early days of the British Mandate, Jews and Arabs lived as peaceful neighbors. A return to that life is possible only through one of two paths:
Either all Palestinian refugees must be returned and compensated, and Zionists must abide by all UN resolutions and halt immigration to Palestine—
or the Arabs and Muslims will have no choice but to defend themselves and their lands with their lives and wealth to protect Al‑Aqsa Mosque from Zionism. This will surely come to pass, sooner or later. Palestine belongs to the Arabs, and this is the cornerstone of any future understanding.”
In September 1954, the journalist William Polk visited King Saud and asked him to address the American people. King Saud said:
“We hope the American people will understand the hopes and pains of the Arabs, especially regarding Palestine. I appeal to the conscience of every American to think of the Arab refugees who were driven from their homeland.”
The world press commented extensively on these bold and powerful statements.