Key Positions of King Saud bin Abdulaziz in Support of the Palestinian Cause
Dr. Nasser Ismail Jarboa – Anafe’ Suleiman Al‑Atiywi
(So We Do Not Forget — From the Saudi‑Palestinian Memory)
In previous installments, we highlighted the depth of the historic Arab‑Islamic ties that bind the two noble Arab peoples throughout our proud Islamic history—ties interwoven with lineage, heritage, and shared roots, and crowned by a distinguished 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 founding monarch, King Abdulaziz, in supporting the cause of all Arabs—the cause of Palestine—which has never once faded from the memory of free Saudis, both leadership and people. We also recalled the enduring Saudi‑Palestinian moments during the era of the “Falcon of the Arabs,” King Faisal, may God have mercy on him, and referred to the seas of Saudi Arab chivalry in the Battle of Maysalun.
Today, so that future generations may preserve in their honorable memory every figure who stood tall in defense of the causes of his nation and the Arab and Islamic peoples, we present to the nation a personality whose remembrance must never fade from the hearts, minds, and conscience of the free people of the world: the late King Saud bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him. God endowed him with a sharp intellect and remarkable foresight from childhood. It was he—truthfully—who consolidated the pillars of the Saudi state, enabling it to leave its imprint regionally and globally, enduring hardship and austerity at times to deliver his noble mission.
King Saud embodied the qualities of leadership recognized by scholars of sociology and political science: status, influence, effectiveness, and the ability to engage with unfolding events.
These qualities were evident early on, beginning with his first diplomatic mission to Qatar in 1915 following the Battle of Kanzan. That mission shaped him into an 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 advanced 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—on merit—to be 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 developments, foremost among them the emergence of the Palestinian cause, the refugee crisis, and the rise of Arab liberation movements seeking to break free from 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. A new era began for the Arab nation, and the Kingdom witnessed political development and a domestic renaissance in agriculture, commerce, urbanization, social development, education, health, and scientific research. Externally, King Saud established an independent Arab‑oriented Saudi foreign policy—rejecting guardianship and dependency, grounded in mutual respect, and dedicated to serving the causes of the Arab nation.
Anyone who studies King Saud’s honorable record regarding the Palestinian cause must pause at the stations of Arab dignity. We recall here his participation in the Anshas Conference in Egypt on 28 May 1948, where he represented Saudi Arabia alongside 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 is not the cause of the Palestinians alone, but the cause of all Arabs,” and condemned Britain’s position—further deepening King Saud’s attachment to the issue.
Soon after, he resolved to visit Palestine with a delegation that included Fuad Hamza, Medhat Sheikh Al‑Ard, Khairuddin Al‑Zarkali, and Saleh Al‑Ali, fulfilling King Abdulaziz’s desire to support the Palestinians, assess their conditions, and provide assistance. His reception in Palestine was extraordinary. He prayed in Al‑Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. During his visit to the village of Anabta (Tulkarm), the martyr Abd al‑Rahim Mahmoud recited a poem before him. When he reached the verse:
“Al‑Aqsa Mosque—have you come to visit it,
or have you come too soon to bid it farewell?”
Prince Saud stood with tears welling in his eyes and addressed the crowd in a firm, resonant voice:
“No, by God, we shall not bid farewell to Palestine while a single Arab vein still beats within us.”
With this visit, he became the first Saudi prince to enter Jerusalem, marking the beginning of a lifelong bond with the first Qiblah—his eyes overflowing with love and longing for Palestine and its people.
King Saud engaged in numerous discussions with world leaders—especially American presidents—regarding Palestine. We recall here his meeting with President Harry Truman, who pledged neutrality and promised not to side with the Jews against the Palestinians. King Saud reminded Truman of President Roosevelt’s commitments concerning Palestine and the U.S. position toward Arab rights. He reiterated to Truman the fundamental principles upon which the Arabs’ legitimate rights in Palestine are based.