Saudis call for holy war against Israel

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 6

Saudis call for holy war against Israel

NZPA Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia called yesterday for jihad (holy war) against Israel, saying that peace talks with Israel were “a kind of illusion.” Prince Fahd made i the statement to the official Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of the end of the Muslim Ramadan holiday. The statement was carried by the Saudi State radio. He said that an urgent closing of Arab ranks had become foremost on the list of Arab priorities.

The Crown Prince’s remarks carry particular weight both because of the Saudis’ traditionally moderate line in Arab affairs and because the

Crown Prince, who is Deputy Prime Minister, is generally recognised to be the most powerful policymaking individual in Saudi Arabia. Prince Fahd said that the ' Arab and Islamic nations were facing a “unique challenge raised with the support of the strongest military Powers in the 1 * rid.” He said hat there was no more hope in talk, “as the question now is to be or not to be . . . and the talks about peace with Israel have become a kind of illusion.” Prince Fahd indirectly called on Egypt to admit failure and withdraw from the Palestinian autonomy talks with Israel. The Crown Prince indicated that his country was

involved in a behind-the-scenes effort to hold an Arab summit meeting for Arab reconciliation and a unified stand on Jerusalem.

The statement, the strongest yet from Saudi Arabia, marked a hardening of the Saudi stand against the recent formalisation of Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem. Last week, Saudi Arabia and Iraq decided at a summit meeting in Taif between King Khaled of Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi President (Mr Saddam Hussein) to sever all political and economic ties with countries accepting the Israeli decision to make Jerusalem its permanent capital. Nine Arab countries later announced similar decisions.