GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian Foreign Ministry is welcoming Oman’s decision to open an embassy in the Palestinian territories, considering this a natural step following the sultanate’s approach and stances toward the Palestinian people, their issues, cause and rights. However, a number of Palestinians are questioning Oman's motives in the matter.

The Foreign Ministry said June 26 that opening an embassy would deepen, develop and promote bilateral relations between the two countries and would bolster joint coordination between the heads of the two countries about certain issues. The ministry also underlined that it would work to facilitate the actual implementation of this step to serve the interests of Palestinians and Omanis. In light of its growing relationship with Israel, Oman has recently sought to bring together both the Palestinian and Israeli positions to settle the Palestinian cause.

The Omani Foreign Ministry decided to open a new diplomatic mission in the West Bank city of Ramallah in a step that complements the sultanate’s supportive stance of the Palestinian people. 

On June 25, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah had met with the Palestinian ambassador to Oman, Tayseer Jaradat, stressing the sultanate’s full and relentless support for the Palestinian people and its [Oman's] insistence on developing bilateral relations on all levels, including establishing a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.