Israel ‘influenced’ US report against Saudi
Saudi newspapers on Saturday blasted Israel’s role in the US Congressional report that raised questions about the kingdom’s responsibilities in the 11 September 2001 attacks.
In an article titled, “Israel’s role in the unfair campaign”, Al-Nadwa said, “There is no doubt that the fingers of the Jews and Israel in particular are behind these campaigns, as much in their planning as in their implementation.”
“The Saudi kingdom has faith in its stance and has nothing to hide. The kingdom needs the protection of no one,” the daily added.
Israeli lies
Al-Yawm expressed its astonishment that US Congress “listened to the lies of Israel’s former representative at the Security Council, who is well known for his lack of sincerity and his great ability to invent lies.”
Under the headline, “The new catastrophe and Zionist campaigns,” Al-Bilad said that the kingdom had “always stated its unswaying position against terrorism and its rejection of any act aimed against the interests of other brotherly or friendly states.”
| US “listened to the lies of Israel’s former representative at the Security Council” –Al-Yawm |
“The kingdom doesn’t need to keep proving its stance on terrorism,” it said.
The US Congressional report, among other things, complained about a “lack of Saudi cooperation in terrorism investigations both before and after the September 11 attacks.”
The exact nature and extent of Saudi involvement was not made public however, as some 28 pages were held back to “protect a foreign government”.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, has already rejected as “blatantly false” the report’s allegations.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks were Saudi nationals while al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been stripped of his Saudi citizenship.