Photograph showing Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, foreign minister (and eventually king) of Saudi Arabia, just days after the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel. New York, May 18, 1948.
The photograph shows Faisal seated on a sofa, reading a newspaper. Next to him is Sheikh Ibrahim Sulayman. In the foreground is an issue of a daily newspaper, the "New York World-Telegram, " laid down on a chair. The main headline of the "World-Telegram" reads "Jewish Nation Proclaimed." The picture was taken in Flushing Meadows Park in the Borough of Queens, New York City, next to the Flushing Meadow arena, a converted skating rink where the United Nations General Assembly was convening at the time.
The back of the photograph bears the inked stamp of the "INP – International News Photos" news agency, and a description of the photo and its place and date, all printed in French.
Throughout his lengthy tenure as foreign minister, from 1930 to 1960, Faisal remained a steadfast and outspoken opponent of Zionism. He acted tirelessly to formulate a unified Arab position on the subject, and to give prominence to this unified Arab stance on the international and geopolitical stage.
Approx. 21.5X17 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor blemishes to edges. Minute holes to top.