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Bush, Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Middle East
VOA News
26 Apr 2002 05:03 UTC
President Bush says the United States and Saudi Arabia share a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

Mr. Bush made the comments following a five-hour meeting at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

President Bush called on Israel to peacefully resolve the stand-offs in Bethlehem and Ramallah and finish its withdrawal from West Bank Palestinian territory. He also said the Palestinian Authority must do more to stop terror.

Mr. Bush told reporters he and the Crown Prince discussed the need for Arab states to condemn terror, and as part of long-term peace, accept Israel as a nation and neighbor.

The Saudi Crown Prince, meanwhile, told Mr. Bush the United States needs to do more to pressure Israel to end its West Bank offensive, and to free Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from virtual house arrest.

Mr. Bush also said the Crown Prince, who is the Gulf state's de-facto ruler, assured him Saudi Arabia would not use oil as a weapon to pressure the United States to change its policies toward Israel.

Earlier, a Saudi spokesman said there will be "grave consequences" for U.S. interests in the Middle East if Israeli-Palestinian violence is left to spiral out of control.

Mr. Bush said Crown Prince Abdullah will spend several more days in the United States and U.S. and Saudi officials will hold more talks during that time.

Earlier this year, the Crown Prince offered a peace plan that would give Israel full recognition from Arab states in return for Israeli withdrawal from lands captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

The meeting between Mr. Bush and Prince Abdullah comes at a tense time in the 70-year-old alliance between the United States and the oil-rich desert kingdom.

Terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were of Saudi descent. The kingdom also raised $100 million in a telethon in support of the Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday he would ask where the proceeds went, saying there are indications some of the money may go to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.