On the developments of the situation following the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Washington, Prince Saud said "there are good and bad things in this context." 'The recognition of the right of Israel to preserve some of the settlements is a negative matter, but the positive thing is the call of President Bush for ending expansion of settlements'. Prince Saud made it clear that it will be impossible for the Israelis to impose themselves by force if they are keen on co-existence, adding that the Israelis must act in a manner that makes them acceptable by the region's countries as it has been included in the Arab peace plan. 'Israel has missed a historical opportunity by rejecting the Arab peace plan,' he added. Prince Saud said the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will be a step in the right direction if it is followed by other withdrawals and implementation of the Road-Map as well as return to Madrid conference. 'If Israel is not planning to implement all that, then its withdrawal from Gaza will lead to nothing, and no peace will be realized if Israel doesn't change its views on the matters and fails to offer peace to the Palestinian people and to end its occupation of their territories', Prince Saud elaborated On the situation in Iraq, he hoped that the factions which had not participated in the general elections would join the political process, noting failure to do that will have an adverse impact on the stability of Iraq. Asked if he shares King Abdullah of Jordan's views about the so-called menace of the Shiites Crescent in the Middle East, Prince Saud said 'King Abdullah has made it clear that his statement in this respect was misunderstood.' 'The most important thing is that the Iraqis , with their different factions, should work for the preservation of their country's unity and independence, and Iraq should never remain a target for any foreign threat', he said adding that Iraq is a country of a great civilization, and it deserves to be respected'.--MORE1432 Local Time 1132 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/255293