Prince Turki Al-Faisal Issues Press Statement

Riyadh, February 08, 2010, SPA -- Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Chairman of King
Faisal Center for Islamic Research and Studies issued on Sunday the following
press statement:

At "Munich Security Conference" on Saturday, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Danny Ayalon indirectly pointed to me saying, " An envoy of a country
possessing a lot of oil refused to sit with me in the same session", adding,
"Saudi Arabia with all its wealth has not given a penny to the Palestinian
Authority".

In reply, Prince Turki Al-Faisal said, "I had objected to sit with him in the
same session, not because he is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Israel, but because of his rude behavior towards Turkish Ambassador to Israel
Ahmet Oguz Celikkol. I had also rejected his claim on my country's support for
the Palestinian Authority and reminded him that the Kingdom has provided more
than $ 500 million in the last five years to the Palestinian Authority so that
it can work. "

"Then Mr. Ayalon had asked me to come to the podium for shaking hands to show
that there are no ill-feelings. I had pointed to him to come down from the
podium to me. When we stood face to face, he had apologized for what he had
said and I replied that I accepted his apology not only for me, but also for
the Turkish ambassador," Prince Turki Al-Faisal disclosed.

"Ayalon was with U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman in the session and at first he
objected my refusal to sit down with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, but after
hearing my words, he expressed his regret for misunderstanding what I had done
and he commended my immediate clarification of the situation," Prince Turki
Al-Faisal said.


"This event should not be taken out of its context or misunderstood. My strong
objections and denunciations of Israel's policies and its measures against the
Palestinians have not changed. It is clear that Israel and its Arab neighbors
want peace, but it can not be expected that the Arab neighbors tolerate what
amounts to theft," the Prince added.


"Certainly, the Arab neighbors should not be pressed to reward Israel for
returning a land that does not belong to it in the first place. Until Israel
responds to the appeal of U.S. President Barack Obama to eliminate all
settlements, the Israelis should not delude themselves that Saudi Arabia will
provide the most precious thing aspired by them, namely recognizing them
regionally.


--SPA

12:05 LOCAL TIME 09:05 GMT NNNN