Saud al-Faisal rules out a war against Iraq: Israel poisons the Arab public opinion against the US

The Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal has ruled out yesterday that the US will launch a war against Iraq. He, on the other hand, stressed that Washington's silence towards the Israeli military campaign against the Palestinians poisons the Arab position towards the USA.

Replying to a question if he believes that there will be no war, he said:" Of course I am optimistic." He also expressed his hope that current developments will be "conducive to a peaceful solution. And this will be the best thing for the world as whole." Al-Faisal said he sees nothing that requires a military action against Iraq if Baghdad reacts positively to the UN resolutions, according to its commitments to the Arab states.

Replying to a question on the anti- US stand in Saudi Arabia, al-Faisal said that there is just one matter that raises criticism which is the American support for Israel. He added that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon claims he has the full support to launch aggressions against the Palestinians. He added " If that is so, the US has to deny that. But Sharon says he gets the American consent in his campaign and this what poisons stances in the Arab world."