King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' address in the Conference of the Arab Economic, Developmental and Social Summit - The Summit of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in Gaza Dear Dignitaries, I greet you with the formal Islamic greeting: “Peace be with you.” We, along with the entire peoples of the Arab nation, aspire for definite results from this economic summit; results that bring glad tidings of security and prosperity for all Arabs and Muslims everywhere. Economy, however, no matter how vital, cannot equal life itself, nor does it replace dignity without which no life is worth living. In the past few days we witnessed images that are so repulsive, bloody, and painful, massacres committed in full view of the world by criminal hoodlums whose hearts know no mercy, and whose chests retain not an iota of human compassion. The murderers and their accomplices have forgotten that the Torah says: “an eye for an eye”; it never says an entire city for an eye. Israel must realize that the option between war and peace will not continue to be available at all times. The Arab peace initiative on the table today will not remain there indefinitely. Today, we honor the martyrs of Gaza; we salute its heroes and its endurance; we value all those who strove to put an end to the bleeding, namely our brothers in Egypt under the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak. For honesty's sake I must say to my Palestinian brothers that their dispute is more threatening to their cause than the Israeli invasion. I remind them that God Almighty links victory with unity, and defeat with discord. With them 1 remember God's words in the Qur'an: “And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited.” Dear leaders of the Arab nation, I must be honest and truthful to myself and to you when I say that our political differences have led to our dissensions and discord. These difference continue to provide aid for the treacherous Israeli enemy and for those who seek to disunite the Arabs for their regional purposes at the expense of our unity, dignity, and aspirations. As leaders of the Arab nations, we are responsible for the weakness that has befallen our unified stand and the frailty that threatens our consolidation. I make no exception among us while saying this. What is done is done. Today, I beseech you in the name of God Almighty, the martyrs from among us, our children, women and the elderly in Gaza. In the name of the blood spilled by the sheer force of tyranny in our dear occupied land of Palestine, In the name of dignity and honor, In the name of our peoples that have fallen into despair, I beseech you, myself included, to be stronger than our wounds, To rise above our differences, To overcome our enemies' assumption, and To stand tall and erect in a position that will be remembered by history and honored by our nation. Therefore, allow me to announce in all our names that we transcend the period of difference, opening the door for Arab brotherhood and unity, and for all Arabs without exception. That we face the future armed with harmony, free from discord, as one body, remembering the words of our Lord, ‘And do not quarrel, for then you will be weak in heart and your power will depart.'” Dear Brothers, Before I conclude, allow me to announce, on behalf of your brothers, the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the donation of $1 billion for the fund proposed in this summit for the reconstruction of Gaza, realizing, while doing so, that one drop of Palestinian blood is dearer than all riches of the earth. I, finally, conclude by reiterating: “peace be with you.” __
