Riyadh: Arab diplomats and political analysts have described the current visit of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to Washington — his first since President Barack Obama assumed office — as of "paramount significance" for the Arab-Gulf security.
"The Saudi-US summit will tackle hot issues in the region including the Palestinian cause, Iran's nuclear file, the current situation in Iraq and the political, economic and security issues between the two countries," they said.
The Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jamal Al Shoubaki said that Palestinians were anxiously awaiting the results of the visit as the Palestinian issue was on top of the agenda in the summit.
"Arabs have a strong notion that the Obama administration did not exert enough pressure on the Israel to find a just and permanent settlement to the Middle East crisis or to resume the peace talks with the Palestinians," he said.
Saudi political analyst Ali Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah said Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal role in the Middle East in view of its regional and international weight and the respect and influence it has in the Islamic world. "Relations with Saudi Arabia is of special importance to America as the Kingdom usually present to it the Arab and Islamic attitudes," he said.
Al Attiyah said Washington would not be able to move in the region and get involved in its political and security issues without partnership with historic allies like Saudi Arabia. "The two sides appreciate this despite their conflicting stances on many occasions," he said.
Abdul Rahim Jamous, a member of the Palestinian National Council and director of the office of the popular committee to assist the Palestinian people in the Kingdom, expected the summit to focus on activating the Arab Peace Plan which was accepted by the US and other countries.
"The King will ask Obama to exert pressure on Israel to lift the siege against Gaza, halt building of Jewish colonies, put and end to the predicament of the Palestinian people, abide by the resolutions of the international community, accept the establishment of a Palestinian state with Al Quds as it capital and realise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians," he said.
Saudi political analyst and director of information at Muslim World League Dr Hassan Al Ahdal expects the king to call the region a nuclear-weapon free zone.
