Lawmakers scold Saudis on boycott

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A bipartisan slate of members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote to the Saudi ambassador to complain about his country’s continued role in the Israel boycott.

“We are deeply disappointed with your government’s participation at the recent Arab League Boycott meeting in Damascus, Syria as well as Saudi Arabia’s unacceptable policy of boycotting Israel,” said the letter sent this week to Adil al-Ahmad al-Jubayr. “In 2005, the United States conditioned its support for Saudi Arabia’s accession to the World Trade Organization upon Saudi Arabia’s ending its participation in the Arab League Boycott of Israel. Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal personally assured Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Saudi Arabia would extend most-favored-nation status to all nations, including Israel.”

The letter was initiated by Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), both Jewish. Another six representatives signed the letter.

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