According to a June 30, 2010 report in the French daily Le Figaro, Saudi King 'Abdallah said to French Defense Minister Herve Morin: "There are two countries in the world that do not deserve to exist: Iran and Israel." The report was confirmed by French diplomatic and military sources.[1]
A senior Saudi official denied that the King had uttered this statement, and pointed out that the French daily had not named its sources. He added that Saudi Arabia's positions are clear and unambiguous, and called on Le Figaro to retract its claim.[2]
On July 3, 2010, the online daily Elaph reported that King 'Abdallah had postponed a scheduled July 11 visit to Paris, which had been planned years ago during a 2006 visit by former French president Jacques Chirac to Saudi Arabia. According to reports, 'Abdallah was to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and to launch with him a Saudi exhibition at the Louvre.[3]
The Saudi press responded to the Le Figaro report with anger, calling it false and fabricated, and arguing that it is completely at odds with the well-known views and actions of 'Abdallah and of the Saudi government.
Following are excerpts from two of the articles:
Al-Watan: The Le Figaro Report is a Lie
An editorial titled "Le Figaro's Fall" in the Saudi daily Al-Watan accused the French daily of printing false claims, in complete disregard of King 'Abdallah's well-known positions: "When a respectable international paper like the French Le Figaro attributes a statement to a figure of global eminence like King 'Abdallah, [and this statement] stands in complete contradiction to all logic, facts, and truth – the publication can only be a fabrication or a lie. This means that the paper's professional standards are compromised. One of the fundamentals of journalism is basing reports on [reliable] sources, and this principle is especially binding when the report is unique and important, like Le Figaro's false claim...
"How can a King who calls for peace in every forum, and whose initiatives for rapprochement between civilizations are known to all, possibly utter such a statement? The report, which reached the paper from biased sources – if there were any sources at all, and this is a question in itself – is not consistent with the political orientation, the principles, and the positions for which King 'Abdallah and [his] government are known. Le Figaro could have been expected to regard the report as dubious and treat it as false until it could be proven. This, especially since the report contradicts what is known about a certain figure, and represents a sharp turn from this figure's known positions and from the positions and strategies of [his] country on a certain issue. [However,] Le Figaro did not [do so], but [instead] was lazy in its professional [conduct], and boldly attributed a false statement to the King.
"The positions of the King and of the Saudi government toward Iran and Israel are well known. Saudi Arabia's position on Iran [is based on] Islamic good neighborliness, [while stressing] the need for Iran to cooperate with the international community. Saudi Arabia's position vis-à-vis Israel is equally known and clear: the Arab peace initiative is on the table, though it will not remain so indefinitely. [So] how did Le Figaro fall so low? An apology would be a sign of [its] good faith, and silence would be a sign of stubbornness and malice. The option Le Figaro chooses [will reveal] its true face."[4]
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Editor: The Publication an Attempt to Sabotage 'Abdallah's Visit to U.S.
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat editor Tariq Alhomayed likewise rejected the possibility that King 'Abdallah had uttered the comment, pointing out that it is at odds with the King's style and positions: "...Is it conceivable that [the King] would use such rhetoric when, as crown prince, he was the one who led the rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran?" Alhomayed added that the timing of the Le Figaro report, so close to 'Abdallah's visit to the U.S. and his meeting with President Obama, indicated that Iran and Israel were behind the leak, and that it had come in response to 'Abdallah's and Obama's discussions on the issue of peace.[5]
Cartoon in Saudi Daily
Cartoonist: Jihad 'Awartani
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), July 4, 2010.
Endnotes:
[1] Le Figaro (France), June 30, 2010.
[4] Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), July 3, 2010.
[5] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), July 3, 2010.
