Addressing the 19th Annual Arab-US Policymakers Conference here on Friday night, he criticized the United States for ignoring Israel’s nuclear arsenal.
“The Obama administration has called for making the whole world free of nuclear weapons … but ignores the status of Israel being a nuclear state,” he said.
He commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for proposing the Arab peace initiative, which has been supported by 22 Arab League states, 56 members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and several other countries.
“Although the United States considered the Arab peace initiative as a basic pillar of peace, it did not push Israel to accept it,” the prince said.
Prince Turki, who is chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, said Washington had also failed to control Israel’s barbaric practices, including the assassination of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes.
He said Saudi Arabia wants ongoing direct talks between the Palestinians and Israelis to succeed and urged Washington to force Israel to stop its settlements in occupied territories.
The prince also referred to the Kingdom’s endeavors to establish peace and stability in Lebanon and reiterated the call for Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon.
Speaking about the US military campaign in Afghanistan, Prince Turki said: “The death of civilians as a result of US airstrikes on targets in areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border would have negative results.”
Prince Turki highlighted the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States, adding that it would serve their common interests.
Mody Alkhalaf, director of cultural and social affairs at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, was one of the speakers at the conference.
