‘Israel exploiting Arab disunity’

'Israel exploiting Arab disunity' M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan I Arab News

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah greets Shoura members before the inauguration of the council's fifth session in Riyadh on Tuesday. (AN photos by Ahmed Yousri)   RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah called for Arab and Palestinian unity in the face of Israeli aggression as he opened the fifth session of the Shoura Council here yesterday. He said he would continue his efforts to unite Arab nations until every difference among them is eliminated. "Saudi Arabia has always triumphed over despair," the king said while talking about the Kingdom's efforts to defuse crises in the region. "God knows that with every step that we take, we keep in mind our people, their commitment to Arab causes, and the unity of the Arab and Islamic nations." The king urged all peace-loving nations and regional as well as global organizations to back Arab efforts to establish comprehensive peace in the Middle East. King Abdullah outlined major foreign and domestic issues facing the country and the Arab world in his address to the consultative body. The king pointed out that the differences between Arab and Islamic countries have been exploited by Israel, adding that the Jewish state had contributed to a "dark atmosphere" in the region. The king said the deep rift between Palestinian factions was even more serious than the Israeli policy as a challenge to Arab unity. King Abdullah pledged that the government would continue its development projects despite global financial recession. "The Saudi government will continue with its development plans and honor its financial obligations despite the deepening global financial crisis that has led to a steep fall in oil prices," he said. In his address that comes a week before the G-20 meeting in London, the king vowed support to any international initiative to help put the world economy on the right track. He said the previous global economic system had ended and the world is embarking on a new economic and financial regime, one that would have rational regulations that would go a long way in providing a stable financial system and prosperous economy. The 150 members of the Shoura Council, several members of the royal family, ministers and diplomats heard the king's speech. At the outset, King Abdullah thanked Saleh Bin-Humaid, former Shoura chief for his services, and welcomed Abdullah Al-Asheikh, the new Shoura chairman. Hamza Khoshaim, member of the Shoura's Security Affairs Committee, expressed deep appreciation for the king's tremendous support to the council. "We were delighted to receive the king, shake hands with him and discuss different issues during his hour-long stay at the Shoura Council," said Khoshaim. Another senior Shoura member, Mazin Balilah, said the king's extraordinary speech would help the Shoura Council to formulate its policies and plans. "King Abdullah's comments on the global financial crisis and his keen desire to contribute to solving the problem will give a major boost to efforts in that direction," he added. The Shoura Council has emerged as a major decision-making body of the government. It advises the king and the government on issues of importance to the Kingdom.

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