Saudi Arabia's View on the Crisis in Lebanon
Statement of the Royal Court - July 25, 2006

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has carried out its role that is imposed on it by its national and religious duties regarding the situation in the region and the ensuing situation in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. It cautioned, warned and advised and did not care about one-upmanship. It did not only do this but from the very first strove to halt the aggression and moved on more than one level and used several methods to urge the international community to force Israel to a ceasefire.

The kingdom sent his highness the foreign minister and his highness the secretary- general of the National Security Council to meet his excellency the US president in Washington and inform him of the kingdom's point of view regarding the dangerous results that could follow the continuation of aggression, the outcome of which no-one could predict if matters got out of hand. 

The kingdom also commissioned personal envoys to visit capitals of countries that are members of the Security Council to convey the same message.

Arabs have declared peace as a strategic option for the Arab nation and came out with a clear and just plan that included the return of the occupied Arab territories in return for peace. They refused to respond to provocation and extremist calls that wage war on peace. However, one should say that patience cannot go on forever and that if the Israeli military savagery continues to kill and destroy, no-one can predict what will happen and if the forbidden [al-mahzur] takes place, regret will be useless.

Hence the kingdom calls on the international community as a whole - represented by the United Nations - and on the USA in particular with an appeal and a warning: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urges everyone to move in line with the dictates of their conscience and the moral values of international humanity, and warns everyone that, should the option of peace fail as a result of the Israeli arrogance, only the option of war will remain. And then only God Almighty knows what wars and conflicts the region will witness, the evil of which will spare no-one, even those whose military power is now pushing them to play with fire.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to its political move, feels that the human tragedy in Lebanon and Palestine requires generous support from every Arab and Muslim and every honourable person. On this premise, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God protect him, launched a call for a campaign of popular contributions which will begin tomorrow, calling on all citizens, male and female, to act in accordance with the generosity, loyalty and compassion that this proud people is renowned for towards their Arab and Islamic nations. After that will come the task of rebuilding Lebanon and Palestine in the wake of the major destruction left by the Israeli aggression. It pleases the kingdom to be the first contributor in this effort.

In this regard the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has given instructions for a grant of 500 million dollars to the Lebanese people so that it would be core for an Arab-international fund for the reconstruction of Lebanon. He, may God protect him, has instructed to deposit 1bn dollars in the Lebanon Central Bank to bolster the Lebanese economy. He also, may God preserve him, gave instructions to give 250 million dollars to the Palestinian people so that it would be the core of a fund.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, government and people, calls on all Arab and Muslim countries and all countries around the world to take up their role and responsibility with regard to what is happening so that the international community can together provide effective aid that would help the brothers more than the expressions of denunciation and condemnation.

We beseech God to make us stand firm on our position and be patient in hardship, to provide an opening in crisis by relying solely on Him Almighty.

Source: Al-Ikhbariyah TV, Riyadh, in Arabic 1045 gmt 25 Jul 06 via BBC

Related Item:

Saudi-US Relations Perspectives: Crisis in the Middle East - SUSRIS Special Section - July 2006