WASHINGTON, May 21 (IslamOnline) - Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Azizi has rejected an invitation to visit the United States next month, reports from the kingdom's newspapers indicate.
Quoting unnamed U.S. officials, the papers say the Prince has declined the invitation because of America's inaction in the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The Saudi crown prince will be visiting Canada for a weeklong trip next month leading a high-ranking economic delegation.
He was reportedly invited to visit the U.S. after his trip to Canada. The popular perception in the Arab world that the U.S. is not doing enough to stop the Israelis from their continued aggression allegedly influenced the Prince's declining the invitation.
According to the Saudi press, some senior U.S. officials have said that unless serious efforts are made to stop the cycle of violence in Palestine, a long war of attrition lies ahead that will severely hurt American interests in the region.
Apparently the latest diplomatic overtures by the U.S., including the possible meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are believed to be a result of Washington's recognition of Arab sentiments in the conflict.
