http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-25T173657Z_01_L25115098_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-ISRAEL-SAUDI.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-worldNews-3
Saudi says Israel attacks threaten wider war
Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:40pm ET
International News
UN says Israel warned many times before fatal attack
Israel kills 24 Palestinians in Gaza
RIYADH (Reuters) - Egypt and Saudi Arabia, facing popular anger over
Israel's offensive in Lebanon, toughened their stance on Tuesday,
warning the United States that Israeli militarism could lead to a wider
conflict in the region.
"Saudi Arabia warns everybody that if the peace option fails because of
Israeli arrogance, there will be no other option but war," state-owned
media quoted Saudi's King Abdullah as saying before a meeting with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
His remarks were unusually forthright for the world's top oil exporter,
which has called for ceasefire but blamed Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrilla
group for the crisis that has so far killed at least 413 people in
Lebanon and 42 Israelis.
The comments also appeared to be aimed at the United States, Israel's
ally which has resisted calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Analysts say Washington's Arab allies, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt
and Jordan, fear popular anger against Israel could escalate and force
them to take a tougher stance.
Mubarak took a swipe at U.S. policy telling reporters in Cairo: "What
is happening in the region is destructive chaos, not creative chaos."
Washington has rebuffed calls for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that
would allow Hizbollah to re-arm and attack Israel again in future.
Mubarak left Saudi Arabia after meeting King Abdullah without speaking
to the media. Officials said the talks were to prepare for a meeting in
Rome on Wednesday to try and end the fighting.
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