WASHINGTON: More than 200 US lawmakers urged Saudi King Abdullah on Friday to push Middle East peace efforts forward with a dramatic gesture towards recognizing Israel s legitimacy.
Led by Democratic Representative Brad Sherman and Republican Representative Ed Royce, the lawmakers wrote in a letter that they were disappointed that the kingdom had not undertaken more public outreach towards Israel.
The US representatives cited Egypt then-president Anwar Sadat s historic 1977 visit to Jerusalem and the opening of direct Jordan-Israel ties by the late King Hussein as Arab-world actions that aided the cause of peace.
We urge you to assert a strong leadership role and help lead the Middle East to a new era of peace and reconciliation by stepping forward with a dramatic gesture toward Israel akin to the steps taken earlier by the leaders of Egypt and Jordan, they said.
The lawmakers pointed to US President Barack Obama s June speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, underlining his appeal for Arab states to recognize Israel s legitimacy.
We have been disappointed thus far to see the public reaction of your government to President Obama’s request, they wrote.
Rather than expressing willingness to break down barriers between Arabs and Israelis, your foreign minister asserted that Saudi Arabia could not take any step toward normalization before the return of all Arab land, they said. -AFP
