Saudi prince slams Israel in panel with Ashkenazi
| Author | LAHAV HARKOV |
| Published date | 06 December 2020 |
| Date | 06 December 2020 |
| Publication title | Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel) |
Ashkenazi, who was ensconced at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, took part via video link in the panel on "new security partnerships in the Middle East."
The Saudi prince accused Israel of establishing an "apartheid wall" in the West Bank, of "demolishing homes as they wish, and assassinating whoever they want," of having 20 nuclear weapons and of "denying non-Jewish residents equality under law. What kind of democracy is that?" he said.
He reiterated statements from Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) that Riyadh would only establish diplomatic relations with Jerusalem if the latter accepted the 2002 Arab Peace Plan, which involves a full withdrawal to the 1949 Armistice Lines, a Palestinian capital in Jerusalem and a "fair settlement for Palestinians refugees," which is generally understood to be a euphemism for allowing some to live in Israel.
Prince Turki said that only after making peace with the Palestinians "can we together meet the other colonizing pretender that boasts of its control of Arab capitals, Beirut, Damascus and Sanaa," meaning Iran.
The sharp tone from the Saudi prince came after reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MBS met in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a denial that did not directly address what had been reported, and Yediot Aharonot reported on Friday that a meeting between Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and MBS planned for this week had been canceled because the meeting with Netanyahu had been leaked.
A Foreign Ministry source said that Ashkenazi was taken aback by the Saudi prince's tone, as were his Bahraini interlocutors, who had invited them to a panel on cooperation and partnerships.
Out of deference to the Bahraini hosts, Ashkenazi chose not to escalate and merely expressed "regret for the comments" Prince Turki made.
"I don't think they reflect the spirit and the changes taking place in the Middle East," Ashkenazi added.
He also thanked Saudi Arabia, saying that without the kingdom's approval, the Abraham Accords, in which Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normalized ties with Israel, could not have happened.
Later in the panel, Ashkenazi added: "We can play the blame game of the past, or we can take opportunities for peace."
Most of Ashkenazi's remarks focused on the hope that...
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