King Saud Support for the Palestinian Cause

By: Dr. Nasser Ismail Jarboa – Mr. Nafi’ Suleiman Al‑Atiywi
(So We Do Not Forget — From the Shared Saudi–Palestinian Memory)

In previous installments, reference was made to the deep‑rooted Arab and Islamic ties that have long bound the two noble Arab peoples throughout our proud Islamic history—ties interwoven with lineage, heritage, and shared memory, and further elevated by a distinguished Qur’anic connection. We presented to younger generations the major turning points and the heroic role of Saudi Arabia and its martyrs in the 1948 war, as well as the immortal positions of the late founding monarch, King Abdulaziz—may God have mercy on him—whose unwavering support for the cause of all Arabs, the cause of Palestine, never faded from the conscience of the free people of Saudi Arabia, leadership and citizens alike. We also highlighted the many enduring Saudi–Palestinian moments during the era of the “Arab Falcon,” King Faisal—may God rest his soul—and recalled the seas of Saudi gallantry in the Battle of Maysalun.

Today, in order to preserve in the honorable memory of future generations the names of those who stood tall in defense of their nation and the Arab and Islamic peoples, we turn to a figure whose remembrance 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. Endowed from childhood with sharp intellect and remarkable foresight, he was, in all sincerity, the statesman who consolidated the pillars of the Saudi state, which would later leave its imprint on both the Arab and international arenas. He endured hardship and sacrifice in pursuit of his noble mission.

King Saud embodied the qualities of leadership that sociologists and political theorists agree upon: stature, influence, effectiveness, and the ability to engage dynamically with unfolding events. These traits were evident early on, beginning with his first diplomatic mission to Qatar in 1915 following the Battle of Kanzan. That mission helped shape him into the Arab leader 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 command Arab forces in Najran and Asir, ushering in a period of regional stability resistant to malicious conspiracies.

King Saud succeeded in proving his capability across all fields. He was chosen as Crown Prince on 11 May 1933 due to his political competence, and later became Prime Minister and Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces in 1953. This period coincided with 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 freedom from colonial rule.

On 7 March 1954, the Arab world and the international community witnessed the ascension of a new statesman: King Saud bin Abdulaziz, who assumed the throne of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His reign marked a renewed Arab momentum and a period of internal transformation in the Kingdom, encompassing advances in agriculture, commerce, urban development, social welfare, education, health, and scientific research. Externally, he established an independent Saudi foreign policy grounded in mutual respect and dedicated to serving the causes of the Arab nation, free from guardianship or subordination.

Anyone who studies King Saud’s honorable record regarding the Palestinian cause must pause at numerous milestones of Arab dignity. Among these was 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 was not the cause of Palestinians alone, but the cause of all Arabs, and condemned the British government’s stance—further deepening King Saud’s commitment to Palestine.

Following the conference, he resolved to visit Palestine, accompanied by a delegation including Fouad Hamza, Medhat Sheikh al‑Ard, Khair al‑Din al‑Zarkali, and Saleh al‑Ali. The visit reflected King Abdulaziz’s desire to support the Palestinians in their ordeal, assess their conditions, and provide assistance. King Saud received an overwhelming welcome. He prayed at Al‑Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. During his visit to the village of Anabta in Tulkarm, the martyr Abd al‑Rahim Hammoud recited a poem before him. When the poet reached the line:

Have you come to visit Al‑Aqsa Mosque, or have you come too soon to bid it farewell?

Prince Saud stood with tears welling in his eyes and addressed the crowd with a firm, resonant, and deeply moving voice:
“No, by God, we shall never bid farewell to Palestine so long as a single Arab vein still beats within us.”
With this visit, he became the first Saudi prince to enter Jerusalem—thus beginning a lifelong journey of loyalty to the First Qibla, from a leader whose heart overflowed with love and devotion for Palestine and its people.

King Saud engaged in numerous diplomatic confrontations with world leaders—especially American presidents—regarding the Palestinian cause. Notably, during his meeting with President Harry Truman, the latter pledged neutrality and promised not to side with the Zionists against the Palestinians. King Saud reminded him of President Roosevelt’s commitments concerning Palestine and reiterated the fundamental principles underpinning the Arabs’ legitimate and immutable rights in the land.