Saudi prince rattles Palestinian leaders in televised critique
Former Saudi Ambassador to the United States Bandar Bin Sultan called for a new Palestinian leadership in the first two parts of an interview whose final portion has yet to air.
A three-part exclusive television interview with the former Saudi ambassador to the United States, Bandar Bin Sultan, has produced mixed reactions among Palestinians.
Two parts of the series have been broadcast by Al Arabiya. In them, Bin Sultan focuses on missed Palestinian opportunities for making peace. He says that the Palestinian cause, while just, has bad lawyers representing it. He has publicly called for a change in the Palestinian leadership.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed all senior officials and government-controlled media outlets not to engage with the Saudi official. Foreign Minister Riyad Malki sent a memo to all Palestinian embassy staff around the world with a similar message of restraint and orders not to comment on the Saudi official's statements.
Secretary of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat did not follow the instructions and tweeted Oct. 8 that efforts to change the Palestinian leadership are nothing new.
