This is remarkably stupid:
Monday October 9 2:05 PM ET
Saudis: Arabs Will React if Israel Acts on Threats
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia warned on Monday that it and other Arab states would not stand idle if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak acted against Lebanon and Syria.
``Barak has to think before taking any step...and nobody should think that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the whole Arab and Islamic nation would just watch with their hands tied,'' Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah said.
He was responding to a question by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on the kingdom's position if Israel acted on its threats against Lebanon and Syria.
Barak has threatened ``decisive action'' unless Lebanon and its political mentor Syria rein in the Iranian-backed Hizbollah group which on Saturday captured three Israeli soldiers and wants to swap them with Arab prisoners in Israeli jails.
The crown prince did not specify what action would be taken by Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and a key player in regional politics.
The tensions between Lebanon and Israel erupted amid a wave of violence between Palestinians and Israelis that has killed at least 89 people, mostly Palestinians, and threatened to end the Middle East peace process.
Crown Prince Abdullah said Saudi Arabia would attend an Arab summit in Cairo later this month to discuss the violence:
``We are with every Arab and Muslim stand that will strengthen the position of our brothers in occupied Palestine.''
He said Israel and other states involved in the peace process, an apparent reference to the United States, must see that Arabs and Muslims would not compromise on their rights in Jerusalem and its al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site.
``We have a historic and legal right and a just cause...It is time for the Israeli side and to all who are involved in the peace process to realize what al-Aqsa means for us as Arabs and Muslims...There is no compromise on that,'' he said.
The crown prince made his comments after visiting five wounded Palestinians evacuated to a hospital in Riyadh.
SPA said he had also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian violence by telephone with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Saudi Arabia's cabinet reiterated its condemnation of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and said it would support any Arab action to help the Palestinians, SPA said.
It had earlier reported that King Fahd had donated 30 million riyals ($8 million) to help the Palestinian people while crown Prince Abdullah had donated 10 million riyals.
Why do the Saudis need to say anything? It seems they feel strong with their American made might and don't mind showing it. As soon as a nation becomes armed it wants to exert its will. Saudi Arabia has to think before taking any step because their Arab brothers are more than willing to cut their bedouin throats. "We have a historic and legal right and a just cause". Discount that, Ron Insana. |
