Saudi prince says shook Ayalon's hand due to apology
In al-Arabiya interview, Prince Turki al-Faisal says Israeli deputy foreign minister expressed his regret over remarks he made about Saudi Arabia. According to official, he told Ayalon, 'I accept your apology, on the Turkish ambassador's behalf as well.' Ayalon denies apologizing
In an interview to Saudi news network al-Arabiya, Faisal contradicted Ayalon's version. He said that the Israeli deputy foreign minister had said in his speech that Saudi Arabia "doesn't transfer one penny to the Palestinian Authority."
According to the Saudi prince, after pointing out Ayalon's mistake in regards to the funds transferred by his country to the Palestinians, the deputy foreign minister told him, "How about coming to the stage? We'll shake hands and end this affair."
Faisal replied, "I accept your apology, not just on my behalf, but on the Turkish ambassador's behalf as well."
The Saudi official stressed that he was not representing Saudi Arabia in any way in the conference. "The handshake should not be taken out of context or misunderstood," he said.
"My refusal and my firm condemnation of Israel's policy and actions against the Palestinians remain unchanged. It's clear that Israel's Arab neighbors want peace, but no one can expect them to understand acts reaching theft. On the other hand, they must not be subject to pressure, which may push them to grant Israel a reward for holding onto territories it does not possess."
The Saudi prince elaborated on his conversation with the Israeli official. "Ayalon spoke to me in an indirect manner and said, 'A person from a country with a lot of oil refused to sit in the same table with me and talk to me.'"
He added, "I stress that I have no negative feelings towards him. I made it clear that he should come to me. When we met face-to-face, he said he was sorry for what he had said, and I replied that I accept his apology on my behalf, as well as on the Turkish ambassador's behalf."
As for his refusal to sit around the same table as Ayalon, the Saudi prince, the Saudi prince said, "American Senator Joseph Lieberman was with Ayalon on the stage. At first he objected to my stand against sitting with the Israeli deputy foreign minister, but after listening to what I had to say, he expressed his apology over his lack of understanding of my behavior and praised the way I clarified my stand in a direct manner."
He was also asked about the Israel-Saudi Arabia relations. "The Israelis must not engage in illusions that Saudi Arabia will give them the regional recognition they seek, until they accept US President Barack Obama's call to evacuate all settlements."
Ayalon's office said in response, "All those who took part in the conference saw that there was no apology by the deputy foreign minister towards the Saudi prince. Whoever did not see what happened there, can view the events in video footage released from the conference and see that our claims are correct."
Roni Sofer contributed to this report
