OMEN
07-25-2006, 08:47 PM
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has said Israel's military offensives on Lebanon and the Palestinians could ignite war in the Middle East.
"Saudi Arabia warns everybody that if the peace option fails because of Israeli arrogance, there will be no other option but war," state-owned al-Ikhbariya television quoted the king as saying in an official statement.
"No one can predict what will happen if things get out of control," he said. "The Arabs have declared peace as a strategic choice. . . and put forward a clear and fair proposal of land for peace and have ignored (Arab) extremist calls opposing the peace proposal. . . but patience cannot last forever."
The king was referring to an Arab peace initiative, proposed by Saudi Arabia and adopted in a 2002 Arab summit, which offers Israel a comprehensive peace in return for Arab land it seized in a 1967 Middle East war.
More than 400 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and over 40 Israelis have died in an Israeli blitz that was launched after Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah killed eight soldiers and abducted two others in a July 12 border raid.
Al-Ikhbariya said Saudi Arabia had pledged $500 million to rebuild Lebanon and $US250 million ($NZ406.1 million) for the Palestinians, who are also under Israeli military siege following the capture of an Israeli soldier during an operation.
Reuters
"Saudi Arabia warns everybody that if the peace option fails because of Israeli arrogance, there will be no other option but war," state-owned al-Ikhbariya television quoted the king as saying in an official statement.
"No one can predict what will happen if things get out of control," he said. "The Arabs have declared peace as a strategic choice. . . and put forward a clear and fair proposal of land for peace and have ignored (Arab) extremist calls opposing the peace proposal. . . but patience cannot last forever."
The king was referring to an Arab peace initiative, proposed by Saudi Arabia and adopted in a 2002 Arab summit, which offers Israel a comprehensive peace in return for Arab land it seized in a 1967 Middle East war.
More than 400 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and over 40 Israelis have died in an Israeli blitz that was launched after Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah killed eight soldiers and abducted two others in a July 12 border raid.
Al-Ikhbariya said Saudi Arabia had pledged $500 million to rebuild Lebanon and $US250 million ($NZ406.1 million) for the Palestinians, who are also under Israeli military siege following the capture of an Israeli soldier during an operation.
Reuters