[Jerusalem Post] Gil Hoffman - Natan Sharansky, who currently chairs the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, said in an interview Thursday that when U.S. Secretary of State Rice included Saudi Arabia in her list of "moderate countries in the Middle East," he asked her what was moderate about the Saudi regime. She admitted that he had touched a weak point and from then on, she referred instead to "responsible Middle Eastern countries." "America has wanted for many years to make Saudi Arabia part of the solution in the Middle East, but if you believe in a link between security and democracy, it's not possible," Sharansky said. "It's true that Saudi Arabia is against Iran, but it's ridiculous to say Israel has to make concessions to bring the Saudis on board the Middle East peace process. Bush said only leadership that brings democratic reforms can bring peace to the Middle East. That's the last thing the Saudis want to do. Democratic reforms are almost as big a threat to the Saudis as Iran."
2007-08-31 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive