A Saudi Threat against the American Veto

How long can the United States continue its opposition to the request for the UN to recognize an independent Palestinian state along the lines that existed prior to June 4, 1967, which will be voted upon this coming September?

As the U.S. elections to renew Barack Obama’s presidency draw closer, the White House could be transformed from being bent on working for Israeli interests to fighting to protect those interests. This means that Washington will be heading for involvement in a mighty clash with the Arab and Islamic states that support the Palestinian people gaining recognition from the UN for the state they are seeking. The issue here is not a difference in standpoints on which the page can simply be turned; instead, it’s a question of attitude to history which could create a vilification of the United States, damaging its relations with the Arab states, which are fed up with the blind bias toward Israel, and the failure of all efforts made to reach a compromise, despite the existence of the Arab peace initiative, which was put forward by the king of Saudi Arabia and has been successively approved by Arab leaders since 2001!

In this vein, it is enough simply to read the important article written by Prince Turki bin Faisal which appeared in the Washington Post (June 11, 2011) in which he wrote that, “in the absence of productive negotiations, the time has come for Palestinians to bypass the United States and Israel and to seek direct international endorsement of statehood at the UN. They will be fully supported in doing so by Saudi Arabia, other Arab nations and the vast majority of the international community — all those who favor a just outcome to this stalemate and a stable Middle East.” He added that “As the main political and financial supporter of the Palestinian quest for self-determination, Saudi Arabia holds an especially strong position… In September, the kingdom will use its considerable diplomatic might to support the Palestinians in their quest for international recognition.”

Prince Turki underlined that “There will be disastrous consequences for U.S.-Saudi relations if the United States vetoes UN recognition of a Palestinian state. It would mark a nadir in the decades-long relationship as well as irrevocably damage the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and America’s reputation among Arab nations. The ideological distance between the Muslim world and the West in general would widen — and opportunities for friendship and cooperation between the two could vanish.”

There is no need to consider Faisal’s words a threat against the United States, but the prince does have a significant pedigree in official responsibility and is an influential voice within the Kingdom. For this reason, his article represents an attempt to shed light on the anger about the U.S.’ bias toward Israel, which is no longer acceptable and which will not be tolerated if Washington thwarts a widespread, almost unanimous international desire for the recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to a state.

All of Obama’s promises have come to nothing in the face of the obstinacy of Benjamin Netanyahu, who has surpassed the limits of insult with his scorning of the White House. Just imagine!