Saudi Arabia and the Arab-Israeli Conflict in the Last Years of the Bush Presidency

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and the world's leading oil exporting country. The Kingdom enjoys tremendous religious and financial leverage in the Middle East. In recent years, Saudi leaders have articulated and presented plans to end the bloodshed in the region and to promote a comprehensive peace. Israeli leaders have accepted the idea that the Saudi peace plans provide basic principles that can facilitate broad negotiations between all parties in the Arab-Israeli conflict. This article examines the Saudi role in both the Arab-Israeli wars and the peace process.