In this image released by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, greets President Joe Biden with a fist bump after his arrival at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- At Jeddah airport, US President Biden was welcomed by Mecca Province Governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud
- According to US intelligence findings released by Biden’s administration last year, Prince Mohammed “approved” an operation targeting journalist Jamal Khashoggi
- The Saudi officials denied Prince Mohammed’s involvement and said Khashoggi’s death was a result of a “rogue” operation
Using Prince Mohammed’s initials, Hatice Cengiz wrote to Biden in the form of a tweet she imagined Khashoggi would send: “Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS’s next victim is on your hands.”
Meanwhile, Biden told reporters at a news conference that he discussed Jamal Khashoggi’s murder with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I said, very straightforwardly, for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am,” said Biden, adding: “I’ll always stand up for our values.”
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Albeit Biden had promised as a candidate to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah”, yet he was photographed fist-bumping the oil-rich kingdom’s de facto ruler in Jeddah on Friday.
“The fist bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake — it was shameful,” said Fred Ryan, the publisher and CEO of The Washington Post. In a statement, Ryan added: “It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption that he is seeking.”
According to US intelligence, the Saudi crown prince likely approved the killing of Khashoggi. The journalist’s murder has loomed over Biden’s efforts to reset ties with Saudi Arabia.
