Arabs want ME peace by September

SAUDI ARABIA: Arab states want to see progress in US-guided Palestinian-Israeli peace talks by September, former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal said on Saturday.

"The Arab world has given (US President Barack) Obama until September to get things done," Turki, also a former Saudi ambassador to Washington, told an audience of businessmen, journalists and diplomats. "It is not enough to talk the talk. He has to walk the walk," he said.

"If he does not succeed ... then I ask President Obama to do the morally decent gesture and recognize the Palestinian state that he so ardently wishes to exist.

"He can then pack up and leave us in peace and let the Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese negotiate directly with the Israelis. No more platitudes and good wishes and visions, please."

Turki, the brother of Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, currently has no official government position but is believed to often reflect sentiment at high government levels.

Indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians got under way on May 9.

The talks, which both sides are hoping will revive the peace process after a 17-month break, are expected to cover all final-status issues, including borders, security and Jerusalem. However, both sides continue to wage a war of words over Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank and predominantly Arab east Jerusalem. Riyadh, Sunday, AFP