The King Saud Symposium concluded its sessions yesterday after shedding light on an important dimension of the policy of the King who succeeded his father, the Founder. The symposium focused on his foreign policy, particularly regarding the Palestinian cause.
Dr. Mohammed Al‑Hawari, Professor at the Faculty of Arts at Ain Shams University in Egypt, presented a study titled “King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Role in the Arab–Israeli Conflict.” In his paper, he highlighted the King’s declaration of a state of maximum security alert during the Tripartite Aggression against Egypt.
His Political Speeches
Dr. Al‑Hawari supported his analysis with a collection of letters, speeches, and statements by King Abdulaziz that outlined the main principles of Saudi foreign policy, especially in the Arab and Islamic spheres, and most specifically regarding Palestine. Among these was the well‑known memorandum sent by King Abdulaziz to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt on 29 November 1938, in which he wrote: “It is not just that the Jews should be expelled from all parts of the world and that narrow, helpless Palestine should bear this entire people.”
This memorandum laid the foundation for the Kingdom’s policy toward the Arab–Israeli conflict—rejecting the occupation of Palestinian land and affirming that the issue cannot be reduced to “the problem of Palestinian refugees” alone. His sons—Kings Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd (may God have mercy on them), and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah—continued this same policy.
Strengthening Bonds of Brotherhood
Dr. Al‑Hawari emphasized that King Saud was deeply committed to strengthening ties of brotherhood with Arab kings and presidents in particular, and with leaders of the wider Islamic world in general. He used these relationships to support the struggle against Israel. In all his visits and meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders, the Palestinian cause and Israel’s aggressive actions—serving Western colonial designs in the Middle East—were central topics of discussion.
His First Visit to Jordan
The researcher noted the rapid and fruitful rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, beginning with King Saud’s first visit to Jordan at the invitation of King Hussein bin Talal in 1954, followed by a second visit in 1957. During these meetings, the two monarchs reviewed international and Arab developments concerning the Palestinian issue. Their meeting in Riyadh on 29 Ramadan 1376 AH (29 April 1957) underscored that Palestine was not only an Arab concern but also a major issue for the entire Islamic world at both popular and official levels, and a central preoccupation of scholars, thinkers, and reformers.
Adherence to the Arab Sovereignty of the Gulf of Aqaba
Dr. Al‑Hawari pointed out that the Saudi and Jordanian monarchs were in full agreement on the principles established during their Riyadh meeting, which aligned with the resolutions of the Cairo meeting on 27 Rajab 1376 AH (27 February 1957). At the conclusion of the visit, both sides affirmed that the Gulf of Aqaba constituted Arab territorial waters under full Arab sovereignty.
Saudi–Egyptian Understanding
He added that Saudi–Egyptian rapprochement reached its strongest expression during the Tripartite Aggression against Egypt in 1956. Dr. Al‑Hawari noted that “Western observers began to feel uneasy about the growing Saudi–Egyptian closeness,” indicating that King Saud used his Arab alliances to support the Arab position in the struggle against Israel and the usurpation of Palestinian rights.
Historical Evidence
The researcher listed several positions and decisions by King Abdulaziz—may God rest his soul—and King Saud—may God have mercy on him—as evidence of their commitment to Arab solidarity and unity in the face of threats to Islam and Muslims, and their unwavering support for Palestine against Zionist occupation.
Among these historical examples was the establishment of the Muslim World League following the major Islamic conference held in Mecca from 14–16 Dhu al‑Hijjah 1381 AH (8–20 May 1962), inaugurated by King Saud with the participation of scholars and thinkers from the Kingdom and across the Islamic world. The League aimed to strengthen Muslim unity, promote Islamic thought, call to God, and support the struggles of Muslim peoples.
Another example was King Saud’s firm stance alongside Egypt during the Tripartite Aggression of 1956. He offered President Gamal Abdel Nasser the use of Saudi airports for Egyptian military aircraft, ordered ARAMCO to halt oil sales to Britain and France, and supplied Egypt with its oil needs—despite the Kingdom’s heavy debts at the time. He placed all Saudi economic and military capabilities at the service of the battle, declared a state of maximum alert in the Saudi armed forces, opened the door for public volunteering and weapons training—led by the princes of the Kingdom—and called on Islamic and foreign states to support Egypt and oppose the aggression.
These efforts, combined with Egyptian resistance, contributed to the withdrawal from the Suez Canal zone on 22 December 1956 and the Israeli withdrawal in March 1957—an Arab victory both militarily and politically.
The Palestinian Catastrophe Was Caused by Zionism
Professor Dr. Abdul‑Fattah Abu Alia of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University presented a study citing King Saud’s statement to the American Jewish journalist Alfred Lilienthal that the Nakba of Palestine was caused by global Zionism. Through speeches and statements, he demonstrated King Saud’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause as a religious, Arab, and Islamic issue—and the central cause of the Arab world.
Shaping Political Decision‑Making
Dr. Abu Alia explained that King Saud’s long experience with the Palestinian issue significantly shaped Saudi political decision‑making. The King had numerous positions supporting the Palestinian people. He cared deeply about Arab and Islamic issues, famously saying:
“Muslims are our brothers wherever they may be. And the Arabs are our people wherever they travel or reside. We strive for their good in all fields. The near and far alike know this shared sentiment and firm resolve, and we ask God to help us all restore to Muslims their honor, dignity, and homelands.”
King Saud’s Vision
The researcher added that King Saud attributed the loss of Palestine to “improvisation and lack of sincerity,” stating:
“What caused the fall of Palestine and enabled the enemy to seize its lands was improvisation and the absence of sincerity. The principle of enmity with the Jews arose from their usurpation of Palestinian land; if they abandon that, the enmity disappears entirely.”
He described the Zionist threat as a “cancer that has no cure except removal.”
A Fundamental Solution to the Palestinian Cause
The Kingdom’s position on the fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue was expressed by King Saud:
“The Kingdom will not hesitate to sacrifice all that is precious in order to fulfill the aspirations of the Arab peoples. Those who created this grave affliction in the body of the Arab world—if they desire peace and stability for this sensitive region—must acknowledge the injustice they committed and remedy it with effective means and a true cure.”
Working for the Good of All Arabs
Dr. Abu Alia noted that King Saud adhered to his father’s policy toward Arab states—a policy based on understanding, cooperation, and working for the good of all Arabs. King Saud said:
“We extend our hands to every Arab government that wishes to walk with us toward fulfilling the aspirations of our peoples, and for that we offer ourselves, our sons, and our wealth.”
King Saud’s Meeting with the American Writer
The researcher highlighted the meeting between King Saud and the well‑known American Jewish writer Alfred Lilienthal, author of The Zionist Connection, as evidence of the King’s firm and uncompromising stance on Palestine. King Saud told him:
“The Nakba of Palestine was caused by global Zionism, and Western nations must work to restore peace and security in the Middle East.”
Lilienthal informed the King that Americans had long been unaware of the Palestinian issue, but had recently begun to understand its justice—thanks to books, articles, lectures, and radio broadcasts presenting the Arab perspective.
Truth Never Lacks Supporters
King Saud thanked Lilienthal and all who wrote about the justice of the Palestinian cause, noting that Arabs lacked effective propaganda tools, but that truth always finds supporters. He stressed that peace and security in the Middle East depend on resolving the Palestinian issue, and that the Nakba was caused by global Zionism with the help of Britain and the United States, compounded by the negative positions taken by some Arab leaders themselves.
Protecting Al‑Aqsa Mosque
King Saud explained to Lilienthal that peace and understanding between Arabs and Jews could only be achieved if the Jews submitted to justice, allowed Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, compensated them for all that Zionism had destroyed, lost, damaged, or seized, and complied with all United Nations resolutions. Otherwise, the Arab and Islamic worlds would have no choice but to defend themselves, their lands, and the blessed precinct of Al‑Aqsa Mosque.
The United Nations Has Not Implemented Its Resolutions
The King stressed an important point: no Arab today would dare accept any form of peace with Israel or call for any kind of understanding or cooperation with it so long as the Arabs of Palestine—women, children, and the elderly—remain scattered in refugee camps, and so long as the United Nations has failed to implement its resolutions, and the refugees have neither returned to their homeland nor been compensated for their losses.
Contributing to the Economic Development of Palestine
King Saud issued a series of decisions to contribute—alongside several Arab states—to improving the economic conditions of Palestinians. He approved various financial and material forms of assistance provided by the Kingdom to the people of Palestine, both residents and refugees, in support of the Arab right in Palestine.
Exploiting the Minerals of the Dead Sea
Dr. Abu Alia listed several examples of these supportive measures, including Saudi Arabia’s participation in the project to exploit the minerals of the Dead Sea, proposed by the Economic Council of the Arab League in December 1954.
In 1374 AH / 1955, King Saud donated 1,000 tons of oil to Palestinian refugees living in camps in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—a donation he continued to provide annually as an expression of his Islamic solidarity with them.
In 1377 AH, he allocated an annual financial grant for Palestinian refugee orphans in Syria—male and female—amounting to fifteen thousand pounds sterling. Using these funds, the Directorate of the Palestinian Refugee Institution in Damascus established an orphanage institute for boys and girls known as “The Saudi Institute.”
The institute housed around 150 orphans, providing them with shelter, food, clothing, education, healthcare, and other necessities.
Financial Assistance
In 1377 AH, King Saud also provided financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Lebanon, amounting to one hundred thousand dollars annually—initially forty thousand dollars—to assist Palestinian refugees in Lebanese camps.
He also donated two thousand tons of kerosene, valued at 440,000 riyals, to be distributed to refugees in Arab countries through UNRWA in Lebanon.
In 1382 AH / 1963, he allocated 460,000 riyals for scholarships for Palestinian refugee students in Arab and foreign universities, instructing the Ministry of Education to prepare the necessary implementation plan.
King Saud also donated 80,000 Iraqi dinars to refugees in Iraq. His deep concern for Palestinian refugees stemmed from his awareness of the magnitude of the catastrophe that befell them after the 1948 war.
His Focus on Jerusalem
King Saud consistently focused on Jerusalem and its inhabitants. He donated 100,000 Jordanian dinars to establish a primary school in the city and allocated an annual budget of the same amount for its operation.
He also donated 100,000 dinars to build a hospital in Jerusalem and ordered that all its annual expenses be covered at his own cost.
The Tripartite Aggression Against Egypt
Dr. Abdel‑Hakim Amer Al‑Tahawi, Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the Girls’ College of Education in Tabuk, presented a study on King Saud’s foreign policy titled “King Saud Responds to the Tripartite Aggression on Egypt Through the Tripartite Conference and the Suspension of Oil Shipments.”
He explained that King Saud’s foreign policy emphasized strengthening relations with Arab states and supporting their causes—an approach rooted in the Kingdom’s religious standing and shared Arab vision, aimed at empowering the Arab and Islamic voice internationally.
Heroic Positions
The researcher highlighted one of King Saud’s heroic positions within the Arab world, demonstrating his commitment to Islamic and Arab solidarity against external threats. He detailed King Saud’s stance during the Tripartite Aggression of 1376 AH / 1956, launched by Britain, France, and Israel to regain control of the Suez Canal after President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized it—thus ending the Anglo‑French company’s authority over the vital waterway since its opening in 1869.
According to Al‑Tahawi, the nationalization affirmed Egypt’s sovereignty over its territory.
Supporting Egypt’s Decision
Saudi Arabia, under King Saud, was among the first states to declare its support for Egypt’s decision. The Saudi ambassador delivered a message to President Nasser expressing full support for the nationalization of the Suez Canal.
This support was not only official but also popular, as reflected in the Saudi press. The researcher cited a statement King Saud made to an American media outlet:
“This matter is a legitimate right of Egypt, and my position and that of my people is one of full support and solidarity with our sister Egypt.”
The Riyadh and Dammam Conferences
King Saud did not stop at statements. He hosted President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Syrian President Shukri Al‑Quwatli at the Riyadh and Dammam Conferences in Safar 1376 AH / September 1956.
The joint communiqué declared:
“The Tripartite Conference fully supports Egypt in all its positions.”
Escalation of the Crisis
When the Tripartite Aggression began on the evening of 29 October 1956, King Saud stood firmly with Egypt. He immediately ordered the general mobilization of the Saudi armed forces and deployed Saudi military units to the Jordanian border in preparation for possible developments.
He informed President Nasser that he, his army, and all the Saudi people were ready to support Egypt with men, money, and weapons.
Opening the Door for Donations
King Saud announced a personal donation of two million Saudi riyals and opened the door for public contributions and volunteering through offices across the Kingdom under the supervision of Interior Minister Prince Abdullah Al‑Faisal.
Princes and citizens alike rushed to donate funds and volunteer for military service to support Egypt.
Messages to Arab Leaders
King Saud sent letters to Arab kings and presidents urging them to stand with Egypt. He headed the Saudi delegation to the Arab Summit in Beirut on 13–14 November 1956, which declared that the aggression was an attack on all Arab states.
Saudi Arabia was the first Arab country to halt oil shipments to Britain and France and to sever diplomatic relations with them after they refused to comply with United Nations resolutions calling for an end to the aggression and withdrawal from Egyptian territory.
The researcher noted that the Saudi government conducted intensive international communications, particularly with the United States. King Saud sent several messages to President Eisenhower, who was under Zionist pressure during his re‑election campaign.
Despite this, Eisenhower warned Israeli Prime Minister Ben‑Gurion that he would not remain silent for electoral considerations and would act according to American interests.
This stance—one of the last firm U.S. positions against Israel during an election period—encouraged further Saudi‑American cooperation in support of Egypt.
Similarly, the Soviet Union, through Prime Minister Bulganin, issued a stern warning on 5 November 1956, threatening that London and Paris were within range of Soviet nuclear missiles.
Three Complementary Directions
The researcher summarized King Saud’s Islamic stance as operating in three integrated directions:
- Mobilizing the internal front to supply Egypt with all possible Saudi support—money, men, and military equipment.
- Mobilizing the Arab front to stand united behind Egypt.
- Intensifying international communications, especially with the United States, to oppose the aggression.
The Establishment of Civil Society
In the same context, Professor Dr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al‑Huwaymil, Regional Director of the Muslim World League and Professor of Modern Literature at Qassim University, stated in his study titled “The Establishment of Civil Institutions in the Reign of King Saud bin Abdulaziz” that King Saud was the true founder of Saudi civil society. He said:
“If King Abdulaziz was the founder of the state, then King Saud was the founder—or the principal architect—of civil society.”
Stages of the Modern Saudi State
According to Al‑Huwaymil, when King Abdulaziz established the hijrah settlements to settle the Bedouin population, he planted the first seeds of civil society, making him the pioneer of this concept. He divided the development of the modern Saudi state into three overlapping stages: pioneering, founding, and launching.
The pioneering stage began with King Abdulaziz’s establishment of state institutions; the founding stage was led by King Saud, the founder of civil society; and the launching stage began under his brothers who succeeded him.
Institutional Transformations
The researcher recalled that he lived his early youth during King Saud’s reign, and that his generation knew little of institutions beyond the governor’s office and the judge’s house—an indication of the profound institutional transformation that Saudi Arabia later experienced thanks to the civil‑society foundations laid during King Saud’s era.
These transformations were made possible by the security and social stability of that period, which accelerated the shift from centralized administration to institutional plurality. King Saud introduced administrative divisions and established modern government headquarters. Observers agree that he was deeply committed to modernizing state apparatuses and institutionalizing all sectors previously grouped under single authorities.
The Era of Ministry Formation
He added that during King Abdulaziz’s reign, the Ministry of Finance was the “mother of ministries,” from which other ministries gradually branched out. Some ministries—such as the Ministry of Defense—became independent during King Abdulaziz’s time.
However, King Saud’s reign marked a major turning point in the formation of ministries, institutions, and public administrations, including the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Commerce, and Communications.
Although the Council of Ministers was established under King Abdulaziz, its organizational system and regular convening took shape during King Saud’s reign.
Establishing the Council of Ministers
He continued: when King Abdulaziz ordered the creation of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of the Crown Prince, King Saud assumed this responsibility. He worked to transform many public administrations into full ministries, taking two major steps:
- Relocating ministries to the capital, and
- Constructing appropriate headquarters for each ministry—buildings that became symbols of modern governance and spaces for effective administrative work.
Relocating Ministries to the Capital
Al‑Huwaymil explained that establishing ministries, relocating them to the capital, and constructing large headquarters demonstrated that institutional initiatives were deliberate and reflected a long‑term administrative strategy.
These efforts accelerated the development of civil society. King Saud did not stop at establishing ministries and building their headquarters; he also reorganized them structurally and created independent institutions and public administrations for sectors that did not require full ministries.
The Beginnings of Civil Society
The researcher traced the beginnings of Saudi civil society, whose early signs appeared during the reign of the Founder. After unifying the regions and adopting the name “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” in 1351 AH, the process of civil and institutional development began.
On 16 Muharram 1352 AH, the system of succession was established and Prince Saud was appointed Crown Prince. In 1354 AH, the School for Mission Preparation was opened.
One of the earliest institutional foundations was the Regional System issued in 1359 AH, which defined the duties of regional governors and established administrative councils.
This was followed in King Saud’s reign by the Provinces System issued in 1383 AH, which remained in effect until 1412 AH, when the modern Regions System was issued alongside the Basic Law of Governance and the Shura Council Law.
These frameworks affirmed the state’s noble objectives—adapting to modern developments without compromising Islamic principles.
Although the Council of Ministers was founded under King Abdulaziz, its formal system was issued in 1377 AH and remained in force until the new system was introduced in 1414 AH.
This system became the cornerstone of all civil‑society institutions, as each ministry oversaw numerous institutions across the regions—institutions essential for the emergence of civil society.
King Saud’s efforts extended beyond establishing institutions to issuing regulations, and a review of the legal compendium shows his significant contributions.
Media in His Reign and the Reasons for Its Development
Dr. Abdulaziz bin Saleh bin Salamah, Assistant Undersecretary for External Media at the Ministry of Culture and Information, reviewed the media institutions, structures, and characteristics of King Saud’s era.
He described the media landscape from the early 1970s to the mid‑1980s as having undergone major leaps and qualitative transformations, marking a rich and dynamic period in Saudi media history.
He attributed this development to the stability of the Saudi political system, rapid growth, expansion in education, and increased revenues from oil production and export.
He considered King Saud’s reign the second phase in the historical development of Saudi media, distinguished by significant professional and organizational advancements that contributed to the cultural development of society and strengthened the relationship between citizens, the state, and its institutions.
Researcher Dr. Mohammed Al‑Hawari
(Reference to his earlier contributions in the symposium.)