JEDDAH, 13 May 2006 — Saudi Arabia has urged the United States and the international community to make use of the suitable situation at present to find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A resolution on the long-festering issue was essential to confront new challenges, particularly terrorism, Saudi Ambassador to the US Prince Turki Al-Faisal said.
In his keynote address at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, Prince Turki said the conflict has been used by terrorists as a recruiting tool and has been one of the root causes of anti-American sentiment in the Arab and Islamic world.
“For too long, the Palestinian people have endured great injustices and hardships. Many thousands live in hopeless poverty and thousands more have been uprooted from their homes and forced to live in Diaspora. They have been deprived of minimum human and national rights. Their plight has been an open wound constantly irritated by unjustifiable acts of terrorism, painful oppression and deep-rooted enmity,” he said.
“Beyond being a conflict between two peoples, the situation with Palestine and Israel has become an excuse — a way for deviants to justify their evil acts, recruit others, and spread violence, ignorance and oppression,” he said.
According to Turki, the time was now ripe for a peaceful resolution. “We have willing peoples on both sides — both Israelis and Palestinians. We have a framework for reconciliation that is outlined in the road map for peace. And we have a goal that is articulated in the Abdullah Peace Plan. We simply need the parties to make a move with confidence within this framework,” he said in his speech, a copy of which was obtained by Arab News.
The ambassador hoped that Israel, by virtue of its position — not only of military strength, but also by territorial control — to extend a hand to the Palestinian people. “It would be regrettable if Israel sat with arms folded while pursuing a policy of isolation, cutting off the Hamas government, and turning its back on the Palestinian people.”
He advised Israel to strengthen the position of President Mahmoud Abbas, who has proven to be a man of peace by undertaking initiatives such as selective prisoner release and the easing of roadblocks, which hinder and humiliate the Palestinian people.
There must also be gestures from the new Palestinian government, Turki remarked. He said that Saudi Arabia had told Hamas that it must do three things if it wishes to be a viable governing body: abide by existing agreements made by the former Palestinian government, accept the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map, and abandon violence. “Only then will resolution be at hand,” he insisted.
