Saudi prince makes stuff up, and the Times prints it
Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal explains in the Times yesterday why the Arab world should offer no concessions, assurances or recognition to Israel unless it ends its “illegal occupation” “of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights as well as Shabaa Farms in Lebanon.”
Well. so much for a peace process.
I suppose al-Faisal is entitled to his opinion, and the Saudis’ to their rejectionism, but why would the Times print a patent falsehood in the guise of opinion ?
Writes al-Faisal:
Until Israel heeds President Obama’s call for the removal of all settlements, the world must be under no illusion that Saudi Arabia will offer what the Israelis most desire — regional recognition.
At no point has Obama or any in his administration called for the “removal of all settlements.” At most, the administration has called for a complete halt to settlement expansion — big difference.
Al-Faisal’s assertion is mischievous on two counts: It implies he has U.S.-backing for his non-negotiable stance, and tries to drive a further wedge between the administation and the pro-Israel community.
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JustASC is written by Andrew Silow-Carroll, Editor-in-Chief of the 
September 14th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Dear Mr.Silow,
I’s Saudi. I agree that no one in the Obama administration nor any administrations before that has called on Israel to remove the settlements. It might have been a slip on the Prince’s side. Regardless, of what the Prince says or anyone the Obama administration says the fact stands that UN resolutions after the 1967 war repeatedly require Israel to return all Arab land occupied by Israel during that war. Why is always required by the Arabs to accept UN resolution after UN resolution while Israel is not? I am sure that neither the US nor Israel accept to be treated with any form of double standard. So believe it or not, nor do we Arabs.
So for the sake of peace and justice, let’s not twist the facts on both sides and really strive for justice in the Middle East. That, Mr.Silow, is the only way we will achieve it.