Saudi King Makes Overtures To Syria

By: George Baghdadi
Topics: World Watch

Saudi King Abdullah kept up his conciliatory approach to Syria on Sunday and sent his son to Damascus to discuss with Syrian President Basher Al-Assad the best ways to improve their bilateral ties, which reached a low ebb over Lebanon, Iraq and to a lesser extent, Palestine.

Syrian officials said the overture came as Assad received earlier in the day Prince Muqran who conveyed a verbal message from the Saudi King to the Syrian leader.

"The message tackles bilateral relations, latest regional developments and the importance of coordination and consultation between the two sides in the interest of the two countries' peoples and the Arab peoples in general," according to an official statement.

"Assad sent a reply message on latest regional events particularly after the Israeli aggression and the importance of Arab solidarity in the face of challenges confronting the Arab nations, particularly in Palestine," read the statement, carried by government-run Syrian Arab News Agency.

The Saudi King told his fellow Arab leaders in Kuwait last month that he was declaring an end to "the recent period of quarrels" and "opening the door of unity."

The pacifying language offered some relief from the tensions that have built up over the past years.

The last but not the least, Arab heads of states were divided on how to respond to Israel's 22-day aggression on the Palestinian territory — which it started on Dec. 27, and did face heavy criticism for their apparent inaction.

The monarch, however, addressed his most important words in the two-day Kuwait summit to Israel, warning Israeli leaders not to pass up the chance of peace that was offered to them by the 2002 Arab summit in Beirut because, as he put it, such offers may not last forever.

Assad, however, did not offer an olive branch to Israel, saying the initiative was "dead and should be buried."

Israel initially rejected the Arab peace plan, which offers Israel peace and normal relations with all Arab countries in return for withdrawal from all territory captured in the Middle East war of 1967, but in the past year has said it could be a starting point for discussion.

The Lebanese pro-Western parties, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, face a tough election battle in June against rivals supported by the Hezbollah militant group and its Syrian allies.

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by goodsamarata February 17, 2009 10:00 AM EST: Over 90% of Palestinians live in and around Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Barely 50% of Jews live in Israel.
The Crusaders lasted 300 years in Palestine, the Turks 400 years, the British 150 years and now that little piece of Zionist *** pretends to take over the area.
But this is OUR TURF and the Zionists will never have the desire, the patience, the discipline to fight it out as we do.
PALESTINE FOREVER AND FOREVER PALESTINE!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by dumbocrap February 16, 2009 1:42 PM EST: bravo six..... bravo six...we''ve got ragheads in the wire...I repeat... ragheads in the wire...over...bravo two...bravo two....we are calling in an airstrike.......let''s send these boys up to meet mr. MOOOhameed....Over; Reply to this comment


by trickbox2 February 16, 2009 11:37 AM EST: Zionism is racism.; Reply to this comment


by trickbox2 February 16, 2009 11:18 AM EST: The arabs light may finally be going on to the idea of united we stand, divided we fall.Its time they banded together and stopped Isreals agression.; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-01 February 16, 2009 10:55 AM EST: CBS: The monarch, however, addressed his most important words in the two-day Kuwait summit to Israel, warning Israeli leaders not to pass up the chance of peace that was offered to them by the 2002 Arab summit in Beirut because, as he put it, such offers may not last forever.
Assad, however, did not offer an olive branch to Israel, saying the initiative was "dead and should be buried."

-This summerizes pretty much the dynamics in the Middle-East. The ball is in the Israeli court. The peace deal is getting off the table and if Israel does not grab it, it''ll be burnt by Iran, forever.

-Israel need to change its stance over the Middle-East. The Arab people is better armed now, miltarily and most importantly mentally. They see the danger Isreal represent to their own existence and they kinda adapted. Getting more immune to its presence. Israel is facing a dead end to its own existence. If it grabs the Saudi deal, it''ll survive for a short period, if not it''ll just disappear, because based on occupation and grabbing more land. Because Israel, as it is now, can''t stay eternally young!; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-01 February 16, 2009 10:55 AM EST: CBS: The monarch, however, addressed his most important words in the two-day Kuwait summit to Israel, warning Israeli leaders not to pass up the chance of peace that was offered to them by the 2002 Arab summit in Beirut because, as he put it, such offers may not last forever.
Assad, however, did not offer an olive branch to Israel, saying the initiative was "dead and should be buried."

-This summerizes pretty much the dynamics in the Middle-East. The ball is in the Israeli court. The peace deal is getting off the table and if Israel does not grab it, it''ll be burnt by Iran, forever.

-Israel need to change its stance over the Middle-East. The Arab people is better armed now, miltarily and most importantly mentally. They see the danger Isreal represent to their own existence and they kinda adapted. Getting more immune to its presence. Israel is facing a dead end to its own existence. If it grabs the Saudi deal, it''ll survive for a short period, if not it''ll just disappear, because based on occupation and grabbing more land. Because Israel, as it is now, can''t stay eternally young!; Reply to this comment