'Inhumane practices.' Saudi King Abdullah
Photo: AFP
Saudis urge firm stance on Israel after handshake with Ayalon
Riyadh appeals to international community on need for 'rigorous position' regarding Israel's 'threats against Lebanon, Syria and Palestinians.' Ex-head of Saudi intelligence downplays significance of Munich encounter with deputy FM
The Saudi government on Monday urged a firm stance by the international community regarding what it called threats by Israel against Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians.
"(The cabinet) appeals to the international community on the need for a rigorous position about these (Israeli threats) and to step up efforts to end the continuous inhumane Israeli practices against the Palestinian people," the cabinet said after its weekly meeting chaired by King Abdullah.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, responding to Syria's accusation Israel was pushing for a war, said earlier this month that Damascus would be defeated and President Bashar Assad would lose power in any future conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak earlier said that "the absence of an agreement with Syria could lead to armed conflict that could develop into all-out war".
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reassured Syria that Israel sought peace after Lieberman's remarks.
The statement followed comments by Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal in which he sought to downplay the significance of his handshake with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon at a conference in Munich on Saturday.
Prince Turki, an ex-head of Saudi intelligence touted by Western diplomats to be the kingdom's next foreign minister, said the handshake did not mean that the kingdom recognized Israel, Saudi newspapers reported on Monday.
