Arab nations slam Netanyahu remarks on Palestinian state on Saudi land

Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries condemned on Sunday comments by Israel's prime minister who seemed to imply in an interview that a Palestinian state could be set up on Saudi land.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments, which some Israeli media interpreted as a joke, were made in light of the region already being on high alert after US President Donald Trump suggested taking over the territory and relocating its residents abroad.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated on Sunday that the rationale behind Netanyahu's statements “is unacceptable and reflects a complete detachment from reality,” noting that such ideas “are nothing more than mere fantasies or illusions”.

The Saudi foreign ministry emphasized its "categorical rejection to such statements that seek to deflect attention away from the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in Gaza."

The ministry statement welcomed "the condemnation, disapproval and utter rejection issued by the sister countries towards what Benjamin Netanyahu stated with regard to the displacement of the Palestinian people".

In a television interview on Thursday, right-wing Israeli journalist Yaakov Bardugo discussed with Netanyahu the possibility of diplomatic normalization with Saudi Arabia when he mistakenly stated that, according to Riyadh, there would be “no progress without a Saudi state”.

“Palestinian state?” Netanyahu replied.

“Unless you want the Palestinian state to be in Saudi Arabia,” the Israeli prime minister joked. “They have a lot of land available.”

Netanyahu continued to discuss the negotiations that preceded the so-called Abraham Accords, where several Arab countries established diplomatic relations with Israel, stating: “I think we should allow this process to take its course.”

The suggestion of a Palestinian state outside of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has drawn widespread criticism from regional actors, including Qatar, Egypt, and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, which condemned the comments as "racist".

Jordan's foreign ministry described them as "inflammatory and a clear breach of international law", emphasizing that the Palestinians have the "right to establish an independent, sovereign state" alongside Israel.

The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates condemned Netanyahu's comments as "reprehensible and provocative" in a statement, labeling them "a blatant infringement of international law and the United Nations charter".

For Palestinians, any attempt to forcibly move them out of Gaza would bring up painful memories of what the Arab world refers to as the "Nakba" or catastrophe — the mass displacement of Palestinians that occurred during Israel's establishment in 1948.

In its statement, Saudi Arabia said "this extremist and occupying mentality fails to grasp the profound significance of the Palestinian land to the Palestinians."

It honestly said, ""such a mindset does not believe the Palestinian people deserve to live at all, as it has completely devastated the Gaza Strip" and killed tens of thousands "without the slightest sense of human compassion or moral accountability"."

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Who could replace Rachel Reeves? The runners and riders

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The Government is facing increasing borrowing costs and fresh worries about inflation, leading one Labour MP to express the view that the Chancellor should be dismissed.

Sir Keir Starmer has asserted that Ms Reeves will remain in her post until the next election, though he initially made that pledge only once at a press conference on Monday - not the two times BBC journalists expected.

a career civil servant, the newly appointed head of the No 10 policy unit.

The Telegraph examines those who could step in as Chancellor if she is ultimately removed from the position.

Mr's name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ms Reeves.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has had ministerial experience from his time serving in Gordon Brown's administration, attending Cabinet Minister for Business.

He also served as political secretary to Sir Tony Blair during his second term in office.

Sir Keir appointed Mr McFadden as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury in 2021, and he later took on the position of shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 2023.

It would be seen as a candidate for the position of chancellor, but his absence of experience as a minister could be a disadvantage.

Elected in 2017, Mr Jones took on the post of shadow chief secretary to the Treasury in September of 2023, before moving into the Government in a similar capacity in July.

Prior to entering the world of politics, Mr Jones was a solicitor who had a specialism in law relating to technology, later working in BT's in-house legal department.

has been touted as a possible replacement for Miss Reeves.

Within the Ministerial portfolio, he has had considerable interaction with the private sector and has served as the advocate for businesses in the formulation of the Employment Rights' Act.

He held several shadow ministerial positions, including four years as the shadow economic secretary to the Treasury under Jeremy Corbyn. He then went on to become the shadow work and pensions secretary.

However, he also lacks experience in government and does not have an economics background, having been trained as a solicitor before entering local politics.

has demonstrated himself to be a trusted member of Sir Keir's ministerial team, and holds one of the briefs that is crucial to Labour succeeding in Government.

He spent three years on the Treasury select committee in the Commons, with a brief period as a shadow minister in the department in 2020.

Mr Streeting is frequently predicted to become the future leader of the Labour Party and is a well-known member of the Cabinet, often appearing in the media.

Prior to his entry into politics, Mr Streeting was employed in higher education and later transitioned to become a public sector consultant.

The Home Secretary has previous ministerial experience within the Treasury, having served under Alistair Darling.

She was appointed as the Chief Secretary to the Treasury following roles as a junior minister in various departments between 1999 and 2008.

The Member of Parliament for Swansea West may have only been a backbencher since being elected in July, but his experience outside of Parliament gives him an extensive wealth of experience relevant to the role.

He was the head of the Resolution Foundation, an economic think tank, for nine years before entering politics.

Given that he has only been an MP for about six months, it is improbable that he would be appointed to such a significant position at this stage.

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Spain PM proposes 100% tax on homes bought by foreigners

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday proposed a range of measures to tackle a housing crisis in the country, including a 100% tax on the purchase of homes by non-EU foreign residents.

Sanchez stated that the proposal would introduce a 100% tax rate on the value of a property for non-EU citizens who don't reside in Spain when they buy a home in Spain, with the aim of "prioritising" housing for residents and tackling the "speculative tourist use of properties."

Sanchez told an economic forum in Madrid that the "unprecedented" measure for Spain, but already in use in countries such as Canada and Denmark, is "acceptable and very urgent" when considering the existing housing crisis.

In 2023, non-EU residents snapped up approximately 27,000 houses and flats in Spain. However, it appears they aren't buying them to occupy them or provide shelter for their family members. The main reason, according to Sánchez, is to speculate, i.e. to make a profit by selling them.

He also stated that, given the current housing shortage, it cannot be "permitted", explaining that Spain's government welcomes foreign investment when it is "productive", not speculative.

The Prime Minister also stated that he would suggest taxing tourist accommodation "as they are, a business."

The measures were part of a comprehensive plan to tackle Spain's housing problems outlined by Sánchez on Monday. They also comprised the transfer of over 3,300 homes to a new public housing body plus government backing for young people renting.

In recent weeks there have been demonstrations for affordable housing, as well as protests against high rents and the impact of mass tourism throughout Spain.

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