In an interview with Newsweek magazine to be published on June 15, Prince Saud al-Faisal said that Washington would be held 'responsible' for Israel's actions if its unquestionable support for Tel Aviv continues.
"If you give aid to someone and they indiscriminately occupy other people's lands, you bear some responsibility."
His remarks come amid a deepening rift between Washington and Tel Aviv over a whole host of issues including the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state which the Obama administration insists on and the hawkish government of Benjamin Netanyahu is strongly opposed to.
Al-Faisal added that the US support was the main bargaining chip in the Middle East peace process and should be used to restore peace in the region.
"The United States has the means to persuade the Israelis to work for a peaceful settlement. It needs to tell them that if it is going to continue to help them, they must be reasonable and make reasonable concessions."
He said Arab states could only consider relations with Israel as an incentive, adding that the normalization of ties would not be realized unless Tel Aviv retreated from occupied land.
"If we put that [normalization] before the return of Arab land we are giving away the only bargaining chip in the hands of Arab countries," the foreign minister said.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Saudi FM: US aid to Israel should cease
Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:36:21 GMT
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Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal
Amidst frosty relations between Washington and Tel Aviv, the Saudi foreign minister says Washington should cut off its aid to Tel Aviv should it continue its occupation of Arab land.
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