Saudi Arabia would shun Doha summit

When asked by Lebanese newspaper Al Safir about the economic summit proposed by Qatar, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah said, “We told them this conference will harm them and we advised them that we and most Arabs will not attend We advised them to drop this conference." Qatar, which is due to host the fourth economic conference since Middle East peace negotiations began in 1991, has said it is committed to holding the gathering but has come under pressure from Arab countries for inviting Israel.

Arab states have expressed anger over Israel's policies on peace. Talks between the Palestinians and Israelis collapsed in March after Israel began to build a new settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.

The Saudi Crown Prince told "Al Safir" that the United States had asked Saudi Arabia to attend the Doha conference.

"We informed them of our viewpoint. How can this happen when Jerusalem is being lost and swallowed? There is no way we can forget Jerusalem," he said.

Prince Abdullah added that he urged Qatari leaders to make Arab interests a priority.

An Arab League official said on June 28 that most Arab countries opposed attending the conference because of Israel's policies. Mohammed Zakariya Ismail, AL Assistant Secretary General for political affairs, also told reporters the United States should play a more active role in persuading Israel to respect the principles of the peace process.

Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abed Aziz, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, stated that Syria embodies Arab steadfastness in an interview by the Lebanese newspaper Al Safir published on July 1. Prince Abdullah said that duty necessitates support of Syria for her unswerving stances, nothing that Saudi Arabia will never fail to fulfill her national duty towards Syria.