In this message, the Sovereign expressed His warm congratulations and sincere wishes of health to President Mahmoud Abbas and of further progress and prosperity in security, freedom and stability for valiant Palestinian people.

On this occasion, HM the King expressed to President Abbas His great pride in the strong brotherly ties between the two brotherly countries, based on mutual esteem and fruitful cooperation.

The Sovereign also reiterated to the Palestinian President the kingdom’s constant support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, notably the establishment of an independent State with Al Quds-East as its capital, on the basis of the two-State solution, as agreed by the international community and in accordance with international legality resolutions.

The Sovereign implored the Almighty to renew such an opportunity for President Mahmoud Abbas and the brotherly Palestinian people in well-being, security, understanding and peace.

In a speech to the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, held last Saturday in Riyadh on the tragic situation in Gaza, HM the King affirmed that "there is no alternative to genuine peace in the region - peace which guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people on the basis of the two-State solution".

The Sovereign also underlined that "there is no alternative to an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital", and "there is no alternative to strengthening the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of my brother President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen".