RIYADH, Nov 10 (Reuters), Saudi media deemed US president George W Bushs refusal to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a calculated snub today and said Washingtons stand on middle east peace could sink its anti-terror coalition.
Saudi Arabia has sharply rebuked its western ally over the decision, saying it was angrily frustrated at Washingtons failure to begin a promised initiative to forge a final peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Bush rejected an opportunity to meet Arafat at the United Nations this weekend, his national security advisor saying the Palestinian leader was not serious about time war on terrorism.
"The refusal.Is a calculated snub , and it gives the lie to stories put out by Washington that it plans a new initiative to get middle east peace talks back on track or that it supportf a Palestinian state, the Arab news daily said.
"It is also an unbelievably ill-judged decision when Washington is desperate for arab support in the war against terrorism," the English-language newspaper said in an editorial.
Risking a backlash from conservative Muslims at home, Saudi Arabia has lent support to the US campaign to root out Afghanistan-based Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born militant who is Washingtons prime suspect in the September 11 attacks.
"Bush, who has refused to meet Arafat since taking office, has to realisen that he cannot kick Arabs in the teeth on the one issue that is of overwhelming importance to them , Palestine , and yet expect thex to fall cn line on global terrorism, especially when it involves bombing a Muslim country," the Arab news added.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is trying to maintain close ties with Washington amid growing unease among many of its people about US troops in the kingdom at a time when Arab anger over Washingtons perceived one-sided support for Israel at an all-time high.
"American policy is linked to tel Aviv, even if the result is against American interests," the Arabic-language Al-Riyadh said.
In the nearby United Arab Emirates, commentators said the Bush administration risked Arab support for raids on Afghanistan.
"Eeveryone must understand that the Arab world has not offered a blank cheque and is still able to achieve its rights by all possible means in spite of dveryone," the Arabic-language Al-Bayan said.
"If Bush fails to distinguish between Israeli terrorism and Palestinian resistance, the bottom would drop out of his global anti-terror campaign," the english-language The Gulf today said.