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| Arabia |
| Middle East: Saudis show interest in regional peace with Israel |
| 2007-08-01 |
| Riyadh, 1 August (AKI) - Saudi Arabia has indicated in may attend a Middle East peace conference including Israel - a move which would represent a breakthrough in relations between Riyadh and the Jewish state. back US Middle East plans. The Washington-sponsored conference is aimed at revive the stalled peace process and would include Israel, the Palestinians and Arab states viewed as moderate by the US. "We welcome this initiative," Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, saying previously it would only establish them at the culmination of an Arab-Israeli peace settlement. Prince Saud was speaking during a joint visit to Riyadh by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates. "When we get an invitation from the minister [Rice] to attend, when this takes place, we will study it - and we will be keen to attend," he said, speaking in Arabic. Saudi Arabia has recently re-launched a peace plan it first put forward in 2002, which calls on Israel to return Arab land occupied since 1967 in return for full diplomatic recognition. The Saudi foreign minister also announced that Saudi Arabia - the cradle of Sunni Islam - would soon explore the possibility of diplomatic ties with the Shia-led government in Iraq, a move long sought by the US. Prince Saud said he was "astounded" by recent remarks by US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad, in which he accused Saudi Arabia of undermining efforts to stabilise war-ravaged Iraq. "By the beard of the Prophet, these are lies, all lies!" Saudi Arabia has not had an embassy in Baghdad since the first Gulf War in 1990, despite pressure from the US after its forces led the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Hmmm ... let us read the fine print in that latest US-Saoodi arms agreement [mega-heh] |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #13 Saudis promoted no peace with oil at $10 or less a barrel. Why now when they're raking in the dough? Remember when the Nazis bargained Jews for trucks while simultaneously killing millions? Same b.s. here... |
| Posted by: borgboy2001 2007-08-01 23:23 |
| #12 eh... Methinks the headline misleads. The Sauds (*spi*) have shown a willingness to sit down at a table and sip tea with the Israelis present. This isn't even a baby step, it is a fart in their general direction. It would be nice if it were otherwise, but as posters above have said, taqqiya's the word. |
| Posted by: Free Radical 2007-08-01 18:51 |
| #11 Anyone believing that "generations" of time will fix this problem overlooks the obvious: the adherents of Islam are incapable of waiting that long--they will cause their own destruction by continuing their attacks on the west long before "generations" pass. Islam is the problem. Islam has always been the problem. |
| Posted by: Crusader 2007-08-01 18:15 |
| #10 I mean, this whole War on Terror would have never even started if the Soddies were capable of advanced thought processes like that. They are the ones who set the whole, big, ugly ball in motion and I don't believe they're even beginning to think about how to stop it yet. If anything, they might be looking for help against the Mad Mullahs but I wouldn't trust them any further than I could spit. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 2007-08-01 16:43 |
| #9 I think this is an indication of a growing weariness with the issue and a desire to finally come to grips with it in a logical manner that is sustainable over the long haul. That is much too logical for them, crosspatch. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 2007-08-01 16:37 |
| #8 perhaps more like hudna than taqqiya |
| Posted by: Albemarle Creng7019 2007-08-01 16:33 |
| #7 However, until they completely STOP funding madrassahs in Paki-Waki, stop preaching Wahabbism, jihadism, etc., they will still be an enemy to me. Bottom line, BA. No matter what they say, it's all taqiyya until they do something about wahabbist radicals in country. When those kids are in positions of power, their kids will be even more open, etc. The only way "those kids" will ever get within a country mile of "power" in Saudi Arabia is if the House of Saud is deposed. The royals will thwart all efforts to remove them or establish any sort of democracy. History shows a distinct dearth of kings that ever willingly abdicated their power in favor of representative government. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-08-01 15:58 |
| #6 I agree with you, BA. They are changing. And the kids growing up today are much more tolerant and open than their parents. When those kids are in positions of power, their kids will be even more open, etc. It is going to take time. It will take two or three generations. The time it takes to change a culture is on a much different scale than US domestic political campaign cycles. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2007-08-01 15:45 |
| #5 Actually, Delphi, I got an email from Jonathon Falwell (Jerry's son) after his father's death in which he described a "Huge" meeting between evangelical Christian leaders and some Muslim leaders and politicos. Basically, his take was that Saudi (through their Reps. here in D.C.) state that they want to change their country and become more open to the outside world, but they have to do it SLOWLY in order to not tweek the jihadi's noses in country. I actually take news of that meeting, as well as this sign about Israel as VERY positive steps for the Saudis. However, I also realize that we must "trust, but verify" especially with them. The proof will be in the pudding. If they actually take steps to open up, become more "Western", etc., that's got to be good news. However, until they completely STOP funding madrassahs in Paki-Waki, stop preaching Wahabbism, jihadism, etc., they will still be an enemy to me. |
| Posted by: BA 2007-08-01 15:02 |
| #4 I think this is an indication of a growing weariness with the issue and a desire to finally come to grips with it in a logical manner that is sustainable over the long haul. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2007-08-01 14:44 |
| #3 Hopefully this not a example of Taqyiaa. Actions will speak louder than words. Interesting change of events in Saudi Arabia if true. I am sure the more learned Imam's are trying to find out if the is Haraam or not. |
| Posted by: Delphi 2007-08-01 13:09 |
| #2 Just using the Great Satan to eliminate the little one. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-08-01 11:55 |
| #1 "Better the Jews than the Shi'a!" |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-08-01 11:48 |