Ain-Al-Yaqeen - July 28, 2006

		July 28, 2006

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES ISSUES HIS DIRECTIVES TO EARMARK A $500 MILLION GRANT FOR THE LEBANESE PEOPLE TO FORM THE NUCLEUS OF AN ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF LEBANON AND FOR $1 BILLION TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE LEBANESE CENTRAL BANK AND $250 MILLION FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
SAUDI ARABIA: PATIENCE COULD NOT LAST FOREVER AND IF THE ISRAELI MILITARY BRUTALITY PERSISTED NO ONE COULD PREDICT THE CONSEQUENCES.
A SAUDI-EGYPTIAN SUMMIT DISCUSSES WAYS OF STOPPING THE ISRAELI AGGRESSION.
CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ REVIEWS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UAE.
DETAILS OF PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL'S VISITS TO LONDON AND MOSCOW AND RICE TO THE REGION.

The Royal Court issued the following statement in Jeddah:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undertaken the role required of it by its religious and national duty with regard to the situation in the region and repercussions of events in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories. In this regard, it has cautioned, warned and extended advice. Furthermore, it has striven from the first moment to stop the aggression, moving on more than one front and by more than one means, to persuade the international community to compel Israel to commit to a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom has dispatched HRH the Foreign Minister and HRH the Secretary-General of the National Security Council to meet the President of the United States in Washington and inform him of its views on the grave and unpredictable consequences of the unremitting Israeli aggression if matters went beyond control. The Kingdom has also asked the two personal envoys to visit the capitals of the Security Council's permanent member states to convey the same message.

The Arabs have proclaimed peace as a strategic option for the Arab nation. They presented a just and distinct plan for regaining the occupied Arab territories in exchange for peace. They refused to respond to provocations and ignored anti-peace extremist calls. It should be stated that patience could not last forever. If the Israeli military brutality persisted with killings and destruction no one could predict the consequences and then regrets will be in vain.

Therefore, the Kingdom addresses an appeal and a warning to the international community in its entirety, as represented by the UN and in particular the US.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls on all to act in accordance with honest, conscious and international moral and humanitarian laws. It also warns all that if the peace option fails due to the Israeli arrogance then only the war option remains and no one knows the repercussions befalling the region, including wars and conflict that will spare no one, including those whose military power is now tempting them to play with fire.

In tandem with its political moves, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is conscious that the humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon and Palestine requires generous support from all Arabs, Muslims and honorable people.

To that end, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has called for a popular fundraising campaign starting tomorrow urging all Saudi citizens to show the usual generosity and commitment towards the Arab and Muslim nation.

With regard to the reconstruction of Lebanon and Palestine in the wake of the huge destruction caused by the Israeli aggression, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pleased to be the first to contribute towards these efforts.

Within this context, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has issued his directives to earmark a $500 million grant for the Lebanese people to form the nucleus of an Arab and international fund for the reconstruction of Lebanon. He has also directed that an amount of $1 billion to be deposited with the Lebanese central bank in support of the Lebanese economy. Moreover, the King ordered the allocation of a $250 million grant for the Palestinian people, as a nucleus for an Arab and international fund for the reconstruction of Palestine.

The government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urge all Arabs and Islamic nations as well as world countries to live up to their role and responsibilities towards current events with a view to enabling the international community to extend effective and tangible assistance to Lebanon and Palestine rather than statements of condemnation and denunciation.

May Allah help us to hold fast our fair stances and grant us patience at times of hardship.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet weekly session at the Royal Court at Al-Hawiyyah Palace in Taif Governorate.

At the outset of the session, the Monarch briefed the Cabinet on the Kingdom's continuing efforts with the concerned regional and international parties to defuse the Lebanese crisis and to work for halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani said that the Cabinet emphasized the importance of the intensive diplomatic movement directed by the King and his messages which are being delivered by the Foreign Minister to the President of the United States of America, Britain's Premier, and Russia's President.

The messages clearly and strongly call for the utmost necessity of a cessation of fire, bloodletting and destruction inflicted by Israel on Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The messages also call for uniting all efforts so that the Lebanese government extends its full sovereignty over all Lebanese land according to Taif agreements and to the sessions of the Lebanese national dialogue in which all Lebanese strata participated.

The messages point to the responsibility of Israel for the destruction and intimidation to which its all-out war on brotherly Lebanon has led.

The Cabinet stressed the significance of the important talks recently held by the Crown Prince with France's President.

The Cabinet affirmed that the great powers should practice their moral and political responsibilities to immediately help bring about a cease fire in Lebanon.

The Cabinet emphasized the importance of continual official and popular support for brethren in Lebanon and Palestine through all governmental and popular channels to alleviate the sufferings inflicted by Israeli attacks which contravene all international treaties, pacts and agreements. This support comes as an enhancement of Saudi fundamental principled policies in this regard.

The Cabinet expressed its trust that the popular fund-raising campaign will lively embody the popular support in the Kingdom for the brotherly Lebanese people.

On domestic affairs, the Cabinet appreciated the King's announcement of the establishment of an international university in the Kingdom specializing in research, technology and higher studies. The university will seek the recruitment of highly qualified staff from all over the world. The Cabinet also appreciated the Monarch's approval of naming the university "King Abdullah University for Sciences and Technology". This gesture means support for scientific research and affirms the Kingdom's entry into the field of know-how industry.

The Cabinet urges all governmental bodies to allocate a significant part of their annual budgets for the promotion of scientific research and the implementation of modern technologies into their works.

On the other hand President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt arrived in Baha on a visit to the kingdom.

At Baha airport, he was received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Abdul Aziz; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Mohammed Ibn Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Baha Region, a number of princes and senior officials.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Abdul Aziz and President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt held a bilateral meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, King Abdullah welcomed President Mubarak to the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia.

On his part, the Egyptian President expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the monarch for a warm welcome and generous hospitality.

They discussed the consequences of events in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories, the sufferings of the two brotherly peoples in the two countries as a result of Israeli attacks, ways of halting the continuing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, latest developments at the Arab, Islamic and international arenas and the positions of the two countries towards them. Aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in a way that serves the interests of the two countries and their peoples in all fields were also reviewed.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Abdul Aziz held a luncheon in honour of President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and the accompanying delegation.

The banquet was attended by Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Mohammed Ibn Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Baha Region; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior; a number of princes; ministers and senior officials.

President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt left Baha after a brief visit to the kingdom.

At Baha airport, he was seen off by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz; prince miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Mohammed Ibn Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Baha region, a number of princes and senior officials.

President Mubarak has called for reaching an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and putting an end to human disaster and bloodshed whose price is paid by Lebanese innocents and civilians.

The President warned that the current situation is extremely dangerous and needs prompt action, adding that delay in reaching a ceasefire and ending military confrontations which broke out two weeks ago in south Lebanon would further complicate the situation.

In statements to Middle East News Agency MENA, the President said after a ceasefire is established, there will be a chance for dialogue and addressing issues which were behind the outbreak of military confrontations, destruction of the infrastructure in Lebanon and inflicting material and human casualties on both sides.

The President urged the parties concerned which would meet in Rome Wednesday to take prompt decisions for ending this crisis, stemming bloodshed, saving lives of civilians who pay dearly for these criminal acts and putting an end to military confrontations.

The President asserted that he would pursue efforts with different parties and leaders of Arab and foreign countries for containing the situation and ending military escalation between the Lebanese and Israeli sides.

On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from France's President Jacques Chirac.

During the conversation, they discussed the developments of situations in the region particularly Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories and bilateral relations between the two countries.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas.

During the conversation, they discussed the situations in Palestine and Lebanon.

The Palestinian President expressed his appreciation of the King, the kingdom, and the Saudi people for their noble positions towards the Palestinian cause. The President also expressed his gratitude for the kingdom's continuing support for the Palestinian people.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised Saudi efforts and support for Palestinian people.

In a statement, he thanked Saudi Arabia for allocating 250 million dollars for re-construction of the Palestinian economy.

Palestinian Premier Ismael Haniyah also made a similar statement of thanks to the kingdom for the support during a meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in both Gaza and Ramallah.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

During the call, current regional developments, especially the situation in Lebanon, were discussed. The speaker expressed thanks for Saudi support for Lebanon.

In Rabat the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan received at his palace Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. They discussed the progress of the cordial ties between the two brotherly countries and means of boosting them. They also exchanged views on latest regional developments and issues of mutual concern.

During the meeting, attended also by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, the Saudi Crown Prince conveyed to Sheikh Khalifa the felicitations and best wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Sheikh Khalifa, for his part, asked Prince Sultan to convey his best regards to the Saudi Monarch.

In London British Prime Minister Tony Blair received Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister, and Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Secretary General of the National Security Council.

The meeting was attended by Prince Mohammed Ibn Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and a number of British officials.

In a statement to the media, Prince Saud said that he had conveyed a message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, to Blair pertaining to the tragedy of Lebanon.

"We believe that the crisis will not end without the restoration of the authority of the Lebanese state on all Lebanese territories', he said, adding that the first step in this path will be ceasefire and ending bloodshed.

He described as excellent the outcome of his talks with Blair, and said "we have agreed that the real solution will be restoration of Lebanon to its independence and sovereignty on all of its territories. The first step should be ceasefire, and stopping the ongoing practices" he said and added 'the sons of the Lebanese are being killed and the country's infrastructure installations are being destroyed without a sin committed by the Lebanese.

Prince Saud said the Kingdom calls on America, Britain and all concerned parties to extend support to the Lebanese people , and added 'the matter is not pertaining to a party, but it is pertaining to Lebanon and its people.

Prince Saud said when the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for the Middle East, she was aiming at reaching an agreement to stop fighting and to begin the process of restoration of Lebanon's authority on its territories. "When she reaches such an agreement, we hope that she will announce that during the conference of Rome', he added.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister met in London with Iraq's Premier Nouri Al-Maleki.

During the meeting, they discussed the current situations in Iraq and Lebanon.

The meeting was attended by Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zeibari and Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Prince Mohammed Ibn Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz.

In Moscow President Vladimir Putin of Russia received Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister. Russian News Agency Itar Tass said that President Putin stressed that the problems in the Middle East can not be solved by means of violence, expressing his belief that outstanding problems in the Middle East have been the main reason for the critical situation.

President Putin hoped that joint efforts of Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other concerned parties will yield solutions, accepted to all, for this critical situation arising in Lebanon and Palestine.

Russia and Saudi Arabia call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and for support for the Lebanon government to spread its authority over the country's entire territory, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said.

After his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, PrinceSaud Al Faisal said the positions of Russia and his country on the current crisis in Lebanon were very close.

A spokesman for the Saudi Foreign Ministry said earlier that Prince Saud's visit to Russia was part of the country's diplomatic efforts to find a solution to bloodshed in southern Lebanon to and bring the warring sides to the negotiating table.

The Foreign Minister said that hopefully the international conference in Rome would focus on ways to end the violence and re-establish Lebanon's full sovereignty.

But he added that the Lebanese government would have a final say on the issue, and that his country would accept any decision of the Lebanese authorities.

On an unannounced trip to Beirut, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice outlined a plan to deploy an international force, possibly led by NATO, in a buffer zone just inside Lebanon for 60 to 90 days, after which it would expand its mission to help the Lebanese army regain control of the south, Lebanese and U.S. officials said.

The force would also help train the army, which according to U.S. officials now has neither the will nor the means to disarm Hezbollah, Lebanon's last private militia.

But Rice's plan to end the conflict, prop up the Lebanese government and weaken Hezbollah was greeted with scepticism by Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, as well as Lebanon's top elected Shiite official and other leaders. Saniora and the speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, warned that Hezbollah was unlikely to accept any foreign military presence in its traditional stronghold in heavily Shiite southern Lebanon.

Rice released her proposal, the first major U.S. diplomatic move since the crisis began, as Israeli tanks and troops pushed about a half-mile farther inside south Lebanon last Monday. They met stiff resistance from entrenched Hezbollah fighters around the town of Bint Jbeil, which is roughly two miles inside the border.

"The people of this region, Israelis, Lebanese, and the Palestinians have lived too long in fear, and in terror, and in violence." Rice said she was "deeply concerned" about the plight of civilians.

The United States has been unwavering in its support for Israel's war on Hezbollah and Hamas fighters, even sending in more despite the heavy human cost of the conflict.

Hundreds of thousands in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes, creating what the United Nations warns is a humanitarian catastrophe. Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using artillery-fired cluster bombs in Lebanon and demanded the Jewish state immediately halt the practice.

Rice met Lebanese leaders including Prime Minister Fouad Saniora on her trip to Beirut, where she reportedly outlined plans for a cease-fire that would involve creating an internationally-patrolled buffer zone in southern Lebanon for 60 to 90 days and a Hezbollah withdrawal from the border area.

But Lebanese parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, who is acting as an intermediary for Hezbollah, rejected Rice's reported plan and said there must first be a cease-fire and a prisoner swap.

Rice arrived from Cyprus aboard a military helicopter and landed onto a landing pad at the US embassy in Awkar, 10 kilometers northeast of the capital.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Al-Saniora affirmed the necessity for an immediate ceasefire agreement with Israel .

After meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Al-Saniora said that "the Israeli aggression aims at destroying Lebanon and not Hezbollah, and planning to take Lebanon back 50 years." The Lebanese Premiere viewed during his meeting with Rice the "appalling" Israeli aggression and what it has done to infrastructure, in addition to the loss of innocent civilians, a government statement said. Al-Saniora said that more than 350 were killed and 1500 injured in addition to 750.000 people fled outside Lebanon. He also listened to Rice's ideas and point of views on that matter, the statement added.

But President George W Bush continued to resist pressure to call for a ceasefire, which his press secretary Tony Snow said would be a "fool's errand".

President George W Bush still opposes the idea of an immediate cease-fire that could give relief from an Israeli bombing campaign.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said there was no reason to believe an immediate cease-fire would stop violence in the Middle East and said instead the world should confront the destabilising force of Hezbollah and its practice of using the Lebanese people as "human shields."

Israel's bombardment has demolished Lebanon's infrastructure and killed hundreds.

"At the order of the president, humanitarian supplies will start arriving in Lebanon tomorrow by helicopter and by ship," Snow announced at the White House.

"We are working with Israel and Lebanon to open up humanitarian corridors."

Snow said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed the assistance with officials during a surprise visit to Beirut and would further discuss the United States' commitment with Israel.

Meanwhile Annan made it clear that any solution would require the involvement of Iran and Syria, the main backers of Hizbullah. "I would expect Iran and Syria to be part of the solution ... I am in touch with both of them," he said.

Annan also stressed the need to secure full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disbanding and disarming of all militias in Lebanon, including Hizbullah, and for the Lebanese government to reassert its authority throughout its territory.

"We need to give the government of Lebanon the support it requires ... to take full charge of its territory and ensure that 1559 is fully implemented."

According to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a new report to the UN Security Council, hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel over the past two weeks have radically changed the context in which the UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL is operating.

The Secretary-General says in the current environment, circumstances conducive to UN peacekeeping do not exist. He says a situation now exists where the force is restricted from carrying out even its basic activities, such as re-supplying its positions and conducting search and rescue operations. The Secretary-General recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of the force for one month to provide time for the Council to consider all possible options for future arrangement in South Lebanon.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni over the conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, calling for an "enduring" peace.

"Any peace is going to have to be based on enduring principles and not on temporary solutions," said Rice just before holding a meeting with Livni in Jerusalem.

The top U.S. diplomat also lent sympathy to the Israeli, Lebanese and Palestinian people.

"This is a difficult time for the Israeli people, it is a difficult time for the Lebanese people, it is a difficult time for the Palestinian people," she said.

"Ultimately, a Middle East that is peaceful and democratic will be a place where peace is sustainable," she added.

Describing Rice's visit as "very important", Livni reiterated that Israel had the right to protect its citizens.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the time has come for a new Middle East and an urgent end to the violence hanging over the region.

"I have no doubt there are those who wish to strangle a democratic and sovereign Lebanon in its crib," Rice said. "We, of course, also urgently want to end the violence."

Standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as they prepared to meet in his office, Rice reiterated the United States position that a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon must come with conditions that make an enduring peace.

"It is time for a new Middle East," she said. "It is time to say to those that don't want a different kind of Middle East that we will prevail. They will not."

Olmert welcomed Rice warmly and vowed that "Israel is determined to carry on this fight against Hezbollah." He said his government "will not hesitate to take severe measures against those who are aiming thousands of rockets and missiles against innocent civilians for the sole purpose of killing them," according to a report of the Associated Press.

US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice, who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the US administration was seeking a simultaneous and bilateral ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza.

Rice, who was speaking to Abbas, told him that the escalation in Lebanon was not making Washington forget the plight of the Palestinians, a highly-placed Palestinian source told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

"The Palestinian cause is the root of the unrest (in the Middle East) and should be dealt with," the source, which preferred to remain anonymous, said.

Abbas told Rice that Palestinian prisoners should be released from Israeli jails. He told Rice about his contacts with the Palestinian government "in order to secure the release the Israeli hostage, who was abducted by Hamas activists." Abbas also called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, "in order to pave the way for the Mideast peace process to be revived." "However, Rice did not suggest any date for the ceasefire to take effect from," the source said.