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Saudi FM Saud al Faisal Criticizes US Backing of Israel | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London, Asharq Al-Awsat – Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal told the International Herald Tribune that obtaining peace in the region is like “holding water or sand in your hand. You see the amount of water, you think you can hold something, but it falls away. Sand is the same thing.” He added, “Unless there is something to hold in your hand and to point to as a success and as an achievement, you have done nothing.”

Prince Saud al Faisal, who speaks seven languages and holds a BA in Economics from Princeton University, also criticized America’s “absolute backing” of Israel. He said that this has led to Israel accepting the option of living in the region without the acceptance of the people of the region, which is something that led to “many years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”

The Saudi Prince also expressed his disappointment in the failure of his efforts to establish a Palestinian state and regional peace during his 35 years as Saudi Foreign Minister. During this period of time, the Prince said, “We have seen only moments of crisis; we have seen only moments of conflict.”

He added, “How can you have any pleasure in anything that happens when you have people like the Palestinians living as they are?”

As for Lebanon, Prince Saud al Faisal said that the country will never enjoy full sovereignty as long as Hezbollah “owns more arms than the military forces of the country.”

Prince Saud al Faisal also stressed that the international community should never allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, and he added that he was “suspicious” of Tehran’s claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. He also called for Israel to give up its nuclear arsenal.