JERUSALEM – Suicide bombings are OK in Tel Aviv, Israel, but not in Saudi Arabia, declared a Saudi professor speaking on Arab satellite television.
"Someone who blows himself up amidst the enemy is different from someone who blows himself up in a safe place. Blowing oneself up in Tel Aviv is not like blowing oneself up in Riyadh," stated Saudi University professor Salman Al-Abdali on Iqra TV, an Arab educational television network.
"Explosive belts are legitimate when they are used against colonialist aggressors," added Al-Abdali. "Let me reiterate: colonialist aggressors, who cross continents and oceans, in order to invade the lands of the Muslims."
The television clip was translated into English by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
The Saudi professor was speaking earlier this month, just days after Saudi Arabia denied it offered the Israeli Air Force permission to fly over its territory to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Arab country was responding to reports claiming it had agreed to turn a blind eye and not interfere should Israel and the U.S. attack Iranian nuclear facilities through Saudi airspace.
WND last month quoted an Egyptian intelligence official stating Saudi Arabia was cooperating with Israel on the Iranian nuclear issue.
The official said Saudi Arabia had been passing intelligence information to Israel related to Iran. He affirmed a report from the Arab media, strongly denied by the Israeli government, that Saudi Arabia has granted Israel overflight permission during any attack against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The official previously told WND that Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, has been involved in an intense, behind-the-scenes lobbying effort urging the U.S. and other Western countries to do everything necessary to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. Such weapons would threaten Saudi Arabia's position of influence in the Middle East.
The Egyptian official said his country believes it is not likely President Obama will grant Israel permission to attack Iran.
He spoke in the past about other Arab countries' efforts to oppose an Iranian nuclear umbrella but did not comment on Egypt's own position on the matter.
Egypt recently granted Israel permission to conduct naval exercises off Egyptian coastal waters. The military drills clearly were aimed at Iran.
Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as other Arab countries, such as Jordan, are influenced by Sunni Islam. Those Arab countries are threatened by the growing influence of Iran, dominated by Shiite Islam.