Saudi minister calls for Israeli response on talks

Prince Saud al-Faisal says lack of positive response from Israel to initiatives for Middle East peace would make Arab nations review their position

20 February, 2008

BUENOS AIRES - Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Wednesday that lack of positive response from Israel to initiatives for Middle East peace would make Arab nations review their position.

"We hope that Israel responds positively to our quest and efforts, to avoid desperation that would force us to review our options," al-Faisal said in a speech at the opening a meeting of Latin American and Arab nations' foreign ministers in Buenos Aires.

Al-Faisal said Arab participation in last November's conference in Annapolis, Maryland to launch a new bid for Middle East peace was based on the idea of entering a new era of talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on Tuesday to accelerate US-backed peace talks after critics warned Israel not enough was being done to get a deal this year.

"It is not logic to always blame the weak side of the equation. The Palestine people are suffering and it cannot be ignored what Israel is doing as far as expanding settlements," al-Faisal said.

The negotiations that were launched in Annapolis have been stalled by disputes over Israeli plans to build new homes near Jerusalem and Olmert's insistence on putting off talks about the future of Jerusalem.