Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned Israel's "security fence" in the West Bank prohibits a peaceful settlement with Arabs.
"Israel's unilateral move of building the barrier makes it difficult to achieve any future settlement," al-Faisal told a news conference in Riyadh Wednesday.
"The barrier imposes a new status quo on the ground, which further complicates matters and adds new burdens on the vital issues already existing in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."
Meanwhile, Al-Faisal also rejected any attempt to impose foreign-inspired "reforms" on Arab countries in an apparent reference to US President George W. Bush's initiative of a "Greater Middle East" for spreading "democracy" in the Arab world.
"The future of the Arab region is a matter to be decided by the Arabs alone in harmony with their Islamic heritage and history," UPI cited him as saying, stressing that "achieving stability, progress and reforms in the Middle East necessitate just and fair settlements to Arab causes, mainly the Palestinian cause." (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
