Lebanon Denied Sovereignty Because of Hizbullah”s Arms
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said in an interview published Wednesday that Lebanon would be denied true sovereignty as long as Hizbullah "owns more arms than the military forces of the country."
He also said that U.S. support for Israel gave the Jewish state the option of not making peace.
"Absolute U.S. backing… has made Israel see the option of living in the area without the acceptance of the people of the area," Prince Faisal was quoted as saying by the International Herald Tribune.
"This has led to many years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians."
The prince also lamented the failure of his efforts to establish a Palestinian state and regional peace during his tenure of almost 35 years as foreign minister.
"Peace until now is like holding water or sand in your hand. You see the amount of water, you think you can hold something, but it falls away. Sand is the same thing.
"So unless there is something to hold in your hand and to point to as a success and as an achievement, you have done nothing."
He added he was "suspicious" of Iranian claims its nuclear program is peaceful, and that Tehran should never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, the IHT reported.